A HOLIDAY activities project run by young volunteers has been hailed a huge success as this year's programme draws to an end.

South Worcestershire Mill-ennium Volunteers has had 25 youngsters, aged between 16 and 19, running youth activities at all of the play schemes around Worcester since the start of July.

As they were preparing for their final session of the summer outside the Guildhall in the city's High Street on Wednesday, project co-ordinator Heather License said she was delighted with how it had gone.

She added: "It's been the best ever this year because it has been run by the young people. They've done all of the administration and the training and been in charge of the events, as well as writing the press releases and much more.

"They've shown dedication and been wonderful, bearing in mind personal pressures and the fact some have been waiting for exam results."

The South Worcestershire Millennium Volunteers, one of 134 such projects around the country, started three years ago, with eight volunteers initially running some four sessions during the first summer of activities.

Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, with 25 youngsters running about 25 sessions attended by 25 youngsters on each occasion.

Volunteers from as far afield as Droitwich and Malvern have organised everything from circus skills and face painting to sports, games and making musical instruments from junk.

Apart from the summer commitments, the volunteers also work with youth and disabled groups to manage other activity sessions.

The Millennium Volunteers scheme is open to people aged between 16 and 24.

Heather said: "Volunteers can come from all walks of life - they could be students waiting to learn about their GCSE results, they could be studying at university or homeless, for instance. We don't discriminate.

"The main thing is we have fun. It's not about being told what to do - people make their own choices that suit your aspirations and the skills they want to gain."

Anyone interested in becoming a Millennium Volunteer should call Heather License at Worcester Volunteers Centre on 01905 247 41.