A MINISTER praised young people on a pilot scheme in Harrow who are learning skills to improve their communities.

Member of Parliament for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner and minister for civil society, Nick Hurd, visited young people for the National Citizen Service (NCS) pilot scheme.

Fifteen people are taking part in the eight-week course run by the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, V charity and Harrow Council.

Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes visited the teenagers on Wednesday last week.

The Harrow group has chosen to tackle the issue of homelessness in the area and participants slept rough in Harrow town centre on Wednesday night to experience what it is like to be homeless.

A barbeque and activities were held at Harrow Churches Housing Association which provides accommodation for single homeless people aged 16 to 24.

Mr Hurd said: “I had a fantastic day meeting teenagers from Harrow who are clearly extremely dedicated to making a difference in their communities and to issues they feel are most pressing to them, like tackling homelessness.

“We all want a bigger, stronger society, these young people taking part in National Citizen Service are leading the whole country, their families and communities should be very proud of their achievements.”

Councillor Mitzi Green, the council’s portfolio holder for children’s services, said: “This scheme is about giving young people the chance to use their passion and enthusiasm to make a difference in their communities. In doing so, they will pick up valuable skills and experience they need to excel in further education or the workplace.

“In contrast to the shocking scenes we saw in London and elsewhere last week, the vast majority of young people I meet want to play a full and active part in society.

“This excellent scheme provides the encouragement and opportunities to do just that, and I am sure today’s visit from Dame Kelly Holmes will provide further inspiration.”

The young people in Harrow are among the first 10,000 pioneering the scheme which the Government hopes to make available to all 16-year-olds in England.