A YOUNG people's project is celebrating a successful first year after securing £14,000 and participants from throughout the area.

Thornley Young People's Project, based at Thornley Community Centre, was set up to deter youngsters from anti-social behaviour by providing them with activities.

It was given three rooms in the centre, where it began running activities for 12 to 25-year-olds, including discos, youth nights, a boxing club and a Thursday night club.

In the past 12 months, it has secured a total of £14,000 to help finance these.

Spokesman Michael Fishwick said it had made excellent progress.

"We have had various grants to refurbish the rooms and provide free internet access on a new computer from bodies such as the Coalfields Community Chest, Wheatley Hill Health Forum and BT," he said.

"We have tried to be more than a youth club - we also wanted to be a one-stop shop giving advice and information on issues such as drugs, health, housing, and somewhere just to hang out.

"Now, the police and community council support the project and we work together to run activities."

Mr Fishwick said a feature of the project was its emphasis on young people as decision-makers.

"We are fairly unique in the area in offering what young people want," he said.

Mr Fishwick said the project's fame had spread. "We attract kids from other villages as well as Thornley," he said. There were also plans to develop further in the future, said Mr Fishwick.

"The long-term aim is to develop a centre of our own, and we want even more young people to join."

Those wishing to get involved in the project can attend its Thursday club, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.