YOUNG people from Northwich have graduated from a Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service-led Prince's Trust programme.

The graduation ceremony was held at Wychwood Park in Crewe, and the team of eight, all dressed in evening dress, attended the celebration event and each gave a two-minute speech about their time on the course.

The speeches were presented in front of a packed audience of local dignitaries, family, friends and people who have helped and mentored them over the 12-week course.

Graduating from the course were Nakinski Conway, Shannon Barber, Adrianne Finemore, Keiran Hobbs, Kristian Caldicott, Matthew Watson, Patrick Roberts and Daniel Buckley.

The programme manager Hazel Crampton led the course with her assistant Sam Rogers.

Tamsen Lesko, Prince's Trust Project Co-ordinator for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This course is another example of how the Service provides value to the community.

“Over the past 12 weeks these young people have learned respect, self-confidence and a variety of new skills. They have grown as individuals and now have clear aims and objectives in life."

The team took part in a number of activities during the programme which included raising money for a community project by bag packing at Tesco and Waitrose, food hygiene and first aid courses, disability awareness and assertiveness sessions and a week-long residential team building event .

The Princes Trust programme is a 12-week course giving young people between the ages of 16 and 25 the opportunity to learn new skills, complete qualifications and gain greater self confidence.

The next team will be running from September 15, and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is now recruiting so if anybody is interested, or you know anyone aged between 16 and 25 who you think would benefit from the Princes Trust programme, call Sam Rogers on 07717 651690.