A DRUGS education project which works with young people has recruited children to help spread its message.

Pupils from Greenfield School Community and Arts College, in Newton Aycliffe, have volunteered to take part in the Outthere Project, which involves youngsters between 13 and 25.

The volunteers are: Sarah Duncan, Stacey Kell, Rachel Cook, Annie Turton, Kayleigh Galashan, Cindy Taylor, Lauren Bailey, Kirsty Mackintosh, Gemma Porter, Emma Cox, John Docherty, Stacy Porter and Kimberley Parkin.

Over the next ten weeks they will be trained in all areas of drug education, giving them knowledge, skills and confidence they need to the pass the information on to primary school pupils in the area. The group meets on Tuesdays after school, meaning youngsters have to give up their own time to become a volunteer with the project.

Volunteer Stacey Kell said: "I want to become a peer educator because I want to help people know about drugs and information, to help them understand they have a voice and a choice about their life."

Also running in Sedgefield borough is the Peer Support Project, which aims to provide training to a small group of young people in basic listening and communication skills so they can support their peers who use substances.

For details on peer support call Andrea Dixon or Graham Hindmarsh, at the Outthere Project, on 0191-384 2785.