TWO teenagers involved with a Chatham youth charity met comedy writer and performer Ian Hislop during a fund-raising event.

The youngsters - Samantha, 16, and Adam, 19 - were at the Royal Bank of Scotland's Zero to Hero event in London, held in aid of Fairbridge in Kent.

Ian, from the long-running Have I Got News for You series, showed his support by joining guests for a three-course meal, h raffle and auction.

In all a whopping £19,000 was raised on the night - almost double the target set by organisers.

The money will go towards helping disengaged young people throughout Kent.

Ian said, “A very impressive amount raised for Fairbridge, particularly in the middle of the credit crunch.”

Fairbridge works with young people aged 13-25 that other organisations find difficult to engage with by giving them the self-confidence and skills they need to change their lives.

Each year over 3,700 young people choose to engage with the charity and for many it is their first step back into education, training or work.