A COMPETITION to help kind-hearted youngsters give something back to their communities has launched for its fifth year.

North Yorkshire Police’s Lifestyle Challenge runs over the summer holidays and aims to give youngsters aged ten to 17 a positive project to do over the long break.

The teams think of a project that they can carry out over the summer holidays that is of benefit to someone or something in North Yorkshire.

They then have until the end of September to work on their project, recording all they do in a log book provided by the police.

The winners will then attend an awards ceremony in November to receive their prizes.

Projects carried out in last year’s challenge included tidying up a wood in East Cowton; clearing a church yard in Bubwith; hosting a community dog show in York and visiting care homes in York

The main award, the Dream Come True Challenge, will be in remembrance of and a tribute to PC Suzanne Asquith.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be visiting schools in the coming weeks to promote the challenge, and teams wanting to take part can register online.

Sergeant Neil Northend, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The Lifestyle Challenge is a fun and productive way to spend the long summer holiday and, as we have seen in previous years, can bring some truly inspirational results.

“These projects benefit not only young people, by giving them an activity to get stuck into over the summer holidays, but also our communities as well. I’m looking forward to seeing what projects North Yorkshire’s young people come up with this year.”

To find out more about the Lifestyle Challenge, visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/lifestyle