A new buddy scheme to encourage youngsters to attend council-organised activities has proved a success.

During consultation for the city council’s youth strategy, it emerged that young people were often reluctant to start joining initiatives like the 511 Team and Street Runner because they were worried about fitting in.

To combat this, the council’s children and youth team has developed a buddy scheme, with youngsters who regularly attend 511 and Street Runner sessions volunteering to become buddies.

The role of the buddy is to support a young person who is attending a session for the first time, give them information and make them feel welcome. Each buddy has a badge, certificate and information card.

They also have a reward card, and for each new member they buddy, they are given a sticker. Once they have five stickers, they receive a £5 voucher as reward for their commitment to the role.

At a celebration event held at the council offices in Canterbury, all 511 Team buddies received certificates of achievement, presented by the council’s deputy leader, Cllr Jean Law.

Street Runner buddies received their certificates during the earlier Hot Topix youth conference.

Cllr Law said: “I was delighted to present the certificates because this is such a great scheme. It empowers young people to work together for the community.”