Thaxted scouts and Great Dunmow students have been successful in Uttlesford Council's Millennium Youth Challenge which has seen over £20,000 distributed to youth projects.

1st Thaxted Scout Group beat off three other highly-rated entries for the right to have their project implemented.

The project, called Kayaking for All, centres on encouraging more young people to tackle canoeing. The scouts receive funding of £20,000, plus a £1,000 first prize.

Commenting on the award, scout leader Ian Hitchin, said: "Four scouts and one young leader did the presentation and they were pleased to get their message across. It is not often you get £20,000 to go out and spend on something you believe in."

Ian said the scouts had enjoyed canoeing trips along rivers such as the Stort, Cam and Chelmer since the early 1980s. Kayaking for All will now be able to buy 11 sets of full equipment, a trailer and minibus.

"There is nothing else like it around here," added Ian. "The idea is to take children from schools and youth clubs on rivers for training."

The second prize of £500 was shared between three year nine students from Dunmow's Helena Romanes School.

Gemma Marshall, 14, Hanna Creasy, 14, and Clare Hood, 13, were the brains behind the Millennium Bug Bus to take young people to the places they want to go.

Third prize of £250 went to pupils from Saffron Walden High School for their Millennium Games entry and fourth prize of £100 to Clare Warren, of Saffron Walden, for her Youth Theatre project.

The challenge was organised 12 months ago. Schools, sports teams and youth groups were asked to submit ideas for youth projects on a district or community level.

Prizes will be presented by council vice-chairman, Cllr Ron Dean next Tuesday.

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