A GROUP of young people from Crewe have graduated from the Prince's Trust programme.

The team of 12, who were all dressed in black tie and evening dresses for the awards ceremony at Wychwood Park Hotel, Crewe, gave a two-minute speech about their time on the course.

The speeches were in front of a packed audience of local dignitaries, family, friends and people who have helped and mentored them over the 12-week course.

Graduating from the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service-led course were: Andrew Beach, Amy Hallwood, Benedict Caress, Brandon Yu, Jack Dearman, Joel Wolfendale, Lewis Brookes, Marina Danicic, Matthew Lee, Natasha Lomax, Rebecca Finney and Tom McCaughan.

Programme manager Sarah McCreaddie co-ordinated the team with assistant project manager Jim Bennett.

Jessica Burton, youth engagement manager, said: "This course is another example of how the Service provides value to the community.

“A lot of the young people on the course have little or no qualifications and have become disengaged leading to social problems.

"Over the last 12 weeks these young people have learnt respect, self-confidence and a variety of new skills.

“They have grown as individuals and now have clear aims and objectives in life."

The team took part in a number of activities during the programme including raising money for a community project by bag packing, food hygiene and first aid courses, drug and alcohol awareness training and a week-long team building event in North Wales

The Prince's Trust programme is a 12-week course giving young people between the ages of 16 and 25 the opportunity to learn new skills, complete qualifications and gain greater self-confidence.

The next team will be starting on February 5 and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

If anybody is interested, or you know anyone aged between 16 and 25 who you think would benefit from The Princes Trust Team programme, call Sarah on 07837 121 523.