A GROUP of young people have been honoured for their commitment and outstanding contribution to the community.

The Golden Valley Group from Folkestone was presented with the overall Young People's Respect Award during the Safer Kent Awards in the Kent Police College at police headquarters in Maidstone on Thursday evening.

The Young People's Respect Awards were jointly organised by the Kent Messenger Group and Kent Police and were sponsored by the Home Office Together Academy and Charlton Football Club.

Other Respect awards went to winners from seven other areas from around the county.

The award is designed to acknowledge the work of young people in tackling anti-social behaviour in our communities and was presented by Kent Messenger Group chairman Edwin Boorman.

They have worked tirelessly to create an open area for young people.

Despite being viewed wrongly as the perpetrators of anti-social behaviour, the group involved Shepway Council and Southern Housing Group in their project, which has improved the community and residents’ tolerance of young people.

It has also resulted in a notable reduction in complaints about anti-social behaviour. The group received a cheque for £500 towards their community project and a trophy.

Other awards on the night were presented by Chief Constable Mike Fuller and Kent Messenger Group editorial director Simon Irwin.

Mr Fuller told the Young People's Respect Awards winners: "The reason you are all here tonight is because you have each demonstrated how you wish to live - in an environment that allows everyone to flourish and enjoy the future – together – as a community.

"Continue to build on your achievements and aspire for a better life for yourself, your friends and families, for your communities – and for what is right.

"When I helped to launch these awards in the summer, I wrote in the Kent Messenger newspapers how there is a common misconception that young people are the cause of many of the problems communities in our county face.

"Yet as I travel around the county talking to residents, I never fail to be impressed by the sense of responsibility and commitment shown by you all."

Ron Green, Kent Messenger Group managing editor, said: "Our newspapers are constantly carrying stories about the many positive things young people do - yet the fear remains that every teenager is a troublemaker, every young person in a hoodie is a yob.

"We launched these awards to emphasise that the vast majority of young people not only have so much potential but are actually prepared to work hard at making a real and valuable difference in their communities."

* FOR DETAILS OF THE WINNERS IN YOUR AREA SEE YOUR LOCAL KM GROUP PUBLICATION.