A SUPPORT team behind a scheme teaching youngsters citizenship has been put forward for a national award.

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

It led to the creation of the district's Young People's Forum, where members are elected by their peers and given a budget.

So far, the forum has set up two skate parks, in Stanley and Consett. It has also introduced a smartcard scheme and is buying a bus to be transformed into a mobile youth centre.

The forum has been so impressed with the support offered by the council that it has nominated the Spice team for the Public Management Leadership Award.

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

The unit of four up for the award includes senior policy officer Nick Tzamarias, team leader Eleanor Seed, smartcard scheme administrator Val Hill, and former Spice officer Sharon Robinson.

Mr Tzamarias said: "We are really proud. We have tried to ensure that young people's opinion is heard and acted upon, and we have succeeded.

"The fact that the forum nominated us for this award means that they really feel we have made a difference, and this is the real prize for us, whether we get the OPM award or not."

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

Officers will travel to London on Friday together with young people from the forum, to present their work to the judging panel.

The winner will be announced in June.