mlouis@thekmgroup.co.uk

A helping hand from South Thanet MP Laura Sandys was welcomed by teenagers on a creative venture to improve a Ramsgate youth facility.

A group of 11 16-year-olds from the Thanet group of the National Citizen Service have been working at Artwise Community Partnership in St Luke’s Avenue.

They have been rejuvenating the garden area, tidying it up and creating colourful murals, to make it more attractive. The young people hope their work will help make the garden more enjoyable to use and will add to the value and appeal of the facility, used by all ages, helping keep it in community use.

Ms Sandys has praised the teenagers on their social action project, part of the NCS month long course which included two residential trips.

The group had to raise funds to pay for materials for their garden work. NCS is a government initiative open to the UK's 16 and 17-year-olds. It enables young people to build up skills for work and life and take on new challenges.

Taking part in a team project to help the local community is a key part of NCS courses.

Ms Sandys said: “It was fantastic to meet the teenagers on the NCS programme. I was really excited to hear that the team had selected Artwise in Ramsgate for their social action project. They are transforming its garden.

"Their community project will have a big impact on the centre.