A PIONEERING scheme to teach young people how to be better citizens has won a national award.

Spice, the Special Project to Implement Children's Elections, was set up by Derwentside District Council last year. It aimed to give youngsters more involvement in local government.

Through Spice, the authority set up a Young People's Forum, a "shadow" council for children, where members are elected by their peers and are given their own budget.

Its achievements so far include creating skate parks in Consett and Stanley. It has also introduced a smartcard scheme and is buying a bus to be transformed into a mobile youth centre.

The forum was so impressed with the support offered by the council that it nominated the Spice team for the public management leadership award, an accolade it won - along with prize money of £2,500.

Councillor Anne Taylor, the council's executive member for strong communities, said: "This is great news. The council has always supported the Spice project and it's fantastic to see that external agencies recognise the brilliant work of the team in engaging with young people."

The award, which is run by the Office for Public Management (OPM), recognises work in delivering significant improvements for communities and an outstanding contribution to the management of public services.

The money will be added to the Youth Forum's budget to boost their Spice it Up small grant scheme, which helps youth clubs and groups across the district.

The council team was one of five projects nationwide to make the awards shortlist, out of 50 that entered.

The officers named on the award are senior policy officer Nick Tzamarias, team leader Eleanor Seed, smart-card scheme administrator Val Hill, and former Spice officer Sharon Robinson.

Mr Tzamarias said: "We are really proud that we've won this award, and the money will definitely go to good use through the Young People's Forum.

"We've had great support from other colleagues in the council and partner organisations.

"But I take my hat off to the members of the Young People's forum for their commitment, enthusiasm and hard work."