YOUNG volunteers in East Lancashire have more than 100 chances to get involved in helping local people, courtesy of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

For our latest Pride of East Lancashire Award we are searching for the area's Young Volunteers who dedicate their free time to helping others.

The award is one of two open to anyone who is 16 or under.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an individual programme of enjoyable, challenging and rewarding activities for young people between 14 and 25.

It is made up of three levels, bronze, silver and gold which each include four sections, service, skill, physical recreation and expedition, plus an additional residential project at gold level. The time to complete an award ranges from a minimum of six months to more than 18 months.

In Lancashire there are approximately 100 places where young people can get involved with the award, which include schools, youth clubs and voluntary organisations.

A spokesman said: "The award is very active within East Lancashire and young people get involved with services ranging from working in a charity shop on a Saturday afternoon to peer-mentoring and assisting other young people in their work at school on their lunch breaks. From chatting to their elderly neighbours after school to helping with local conservation through organisations such as Ground Work and the Prince's Trust. The one thing that all young people taking part on The Duke of Edinburgh's Award have in common, at whatever level, is that they are all doing it in their own time.

"Especially through the service section, they are putting something back into their local community.

"One project in the Blackburn with Darwen area has a group of young people in Blackburn turning the garden area outside one of the mosques into a wildlife garden for all to enjoy."

If you know a young person who helps others through the Duke of Edinburgh Award or other means, let us know a visit to www.thisislancashire. co.uk or completing a coupon in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph or Citizens.

Anyone who wants to find out more about Duke of Edinburgh Award can visit www.theaward.org/northwest or call 0161 228 3688.