The county winners were the area winners for SOUTH EAST KENT

Golden Valley Committee, a group of eight young people in Folkestone, nominated for their work to create facilities for young people on their estate. The idea arose from a meeting about anti-social behaviour and the youngsters, seen by some as the perpetrators, decided to take the initiative. The project promoted community cohesion, improved tolerance from residents towards young people and brought a notable reduction in anti-social behaviour complaints. Those involved were: (pictured) Jamie Groombridge, Shanie McCarthy, Sammy Turner, Naomi Cole, Shelly Cole and Rachael Cole,(not pictured) Natalie Cole and Becky Turner

CANTERBURY Area Joint Winners

Laurence Decker, from Herne Bay, for a campaign for improvement at his local park to help children with disabilities. Laurence has a severe disability which affects his legs and is often in severe pain. He has spoken at parish council meetings, helped compile a play strategy review, obtained the support of his MP and, after four long years, won the promise of £10,000.

Kim Daly, from Canterbury, nominated for her active participation in the 16-plus Youth Forum. She is training to become a Peer Mentor to help young people cope with the challenges of leaving care, has sat on social worker interview panels to represent the needs of young people, and is a Millennium Volunteer. She is a student and works part-time in a supermarket.

MAIDSTONE Area

Paul Hart, 19, from Harrietsham, was nominated for staging a one-man charity performance at the village hall which raised £300 for the homeless – despite the theft of the food and drink he had bought for the event. He was also praised for running a drama group for children at Bearsted.

MEDWAY Area Winner

Kent and Medway Young People’s Safety Forum for their work on a Personal Safety Campaign, under guidance from Kent Police, which advises young people on how to keep themselves safe in a range of situations. The information is being distributed to schools and youth groups.

The project involved more than 30 youngsters from Medway Youth Parliament. Kent Youth County Council and the Kent Safe Schools group. They were: Nicole Harris, Steven Ferguson, Nathan Bradley, Maddy Ford, Tom Henneby, Helen Baldock, Becca Marshall, Grace Kelly, Emma Miles, Puja Kalaria, Kaylie Cairns, Kimberley Attard Owen, Rachel Robson, Nia Powell, Andrew Ford, Aparna Shankar, Matthew Jarvis, Scott Collen, Fergus O' Farrell, Ben Lynn, Leatham Bagley, Daniel Plommer, Guido Spocchia, Danny Horan, Bradley Dewhurst, Martine Kydd, Carrie Lee, Michelle Booker, Harpreet Kaur, Eleanor Wooding, Stacey Willis, Tom Town, Karla Hope.

NORTH KENT

Sam Ingram was nominated for his exceptional work as a Peer Monitor at Hextable School for two years. He supported an entire class of Year 7 pupils, spoke at a parents’ evening, helped unite different year groups and convinced youngsters with problems that it really was OK to ask for help.

THANET

Daniel and Dean Smith, brothers aged 11 and 12, were nominated for their involvement in an environmental project to clean up their home village of Garlinge. It meant giving up much of their spare time – but it also meant getting very mucky. Their example encouraged other youngsters to get involved.

WEALD

Brendan Chilton is enthusiastically involved in numerous community projects on the Stanhope Estate in Ashford. He is head boy of Christchurch High School, chairs the school’s anti-bullying council, sits on the Residents’ Association, is chairman of the estate’s dance school and secretary of Stanhope Youth Club – and the list goes on. He has also been involved in helping to curtail anti-social behaviour on the estate.

WEST KENT

Emma Evans, nominated for being the driving force behind a young people’s campaign to obtain a teen-shelter at Seal, near Sevenoaks. She has spoken for the group at parish council meetings, is organising fund-raising events and working towards her Duke of Edinburgh gold award, despite the setback of a hip disability.