9:47am Saturday 12th July 2008
By Asian Image reporter
A inspiring youth and community group was invited to Westminster to showcase their work.
The Fishwick Rangers Youth Development Scheme was set-up to provide drugs education to young people within Preston and to carry out specific clean-up projects.
The Preston-based group believe that unemployment and drugs are key issues facing young people in their area.
Those who attended were Mohammed Allad, Wasim Butt, 'Abubaker Javed, Mohammed Valli', work experience pair from Runshaw college Jonty Mcdonald and Suraj Patel together with local youth worker Hussain Master and project managers Fayyaz Ahmed and Zul Hussain.
Mohammed said, "It was fantastic to be invited to London so we could tell MPs about what we're doing.
"We think that a proper drugs education is important for young people - and our clean-up scheme in the local graveyard goes to show the positive impact young people can have in their local community.
"We hope it'll change a few perspectives about young people."
The clean-up project in the local graveyard will give young people a sense of purpose, and the drug education workshops will tackle drug misuse in the community.
Project managers Fayyaz Ahmed and Zul Hussain added, 'It is a phenomenal achievement by the lads and fully warrants a place at Westminster to be showcased.
"The group has worked very hard in breaking down barriers to participation and to promote social inclusion.
"This has been a real eye opener for the community and let us hope that this will empower others in the community to make a positive contribution."
The project, funded by The Prince's Trust and The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) through their joint Community Cash Award scheme, was one of just five projects from across the UK to be showcased at the Westminster reception.
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