A SCHEME run by Worcestershire County Council which sees young people deciding how to spend over a quarter of a million pounds has met with great approval by their contemporaries.

The council's Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership has handed over responsibility for deciding how its £282,374 Youth Opportunity Fund is distributed over the coming months to county youngsters.

So far, 66 applications have been made to the scheme, given the name Floss (Funding Lots of Stuff) and when successful the money will aim to provide more activities and venues for 13 to 19 year olds to enjoy.

Nineteen young people have received training to become Young Assessors and their job is to visit projects in order to decide which projects are most deserving of a cash boost.

Zara Rowe, aged 16, one of the Young Assessors said: "This is a great opportunity for young people and it's a lot of fun to be involved with it. It's really great that young people are being given the power and responsibility to decide something as important as this."

Any group looking to apply for funding should contact 01905 773742 and young people can also call this number is they would like to get involved with the running of the Youth Opportunity Fund or are interested in becoming a young assessor. Grants of up to £2,500 can be applied for. The closing date for applications being Friday, October 6.