HUNDREDS of young people from the region could benefit from a summer camp initiative that has been set up with £12.5m of National Lottery Funding.

This summer, 380 youngsters from across Cleveland, Durham, Tyneside, Tees Valley and Northumberland could take part in the Get REAL (Residential Exciting Active Leisure Time) summer camp programme.

The initiative is for 11 to 17- year-olds and aims to increase young people's confidence and aspirations, improve lifeskills, develop new friendships with children from different backgrounds and see young people take part in challenging activities, such as sailing, raft-building and abseiling.

The idea is similar to the camps that have been running for teenagers in the US for years and will take place all over the UK.

The ten-day camps, organised by Active Training and Education and PGL, were run as a pilot scheme that involved 1600 youngsters from three areas of the country last year and have been hailed a success.

School Standards Minister David Milliband MP said: "Residential summer camp experiences can raise standards, increase participation and develop the life skills of young people.

"I would like to see every pupil in England benefit from a summer camp experience during their school career."

The Big Lottery Fund is providing £500 per participant for the scheme, which will cost parents on housing benefit or income support £25. Parents who are financially better off will pay £100.

Anyone who wants to learn more about the scheme is asked to contact the Big Lottery Fund on 0845 4102030.