Surrey County Council (SCC) has awarded £8,000 to a scheme that encourages young people to take an active role in the communities they live in.

The money has been given to the High Sheriff Youth Awards scheme (HSYA), which gives financial support to young people in Surrey who want to help reduce or prevent crime in their area.

Leader of SCC, Councillor Andrew Povey, said: “Young people are a vital part of our communities and we should do everything possible to support and encourage their good work.”

The scheme, set up in 1993, funds projects with donations from £50 to £1,000.

In the past year, more than £45,000 was awarded to support 62 projects in Surrey, benefitting an estimated 32,000 young people.