MEMBERS of a youth centre are to be rewarded for their efforts in developing initiatives to improve the heath and well-being of young people in the community.

Moorside Youth Centre, in Consett, is to be awarded the County Durham Healthy Youth Work Standard at a presentation on Monday.

The standard was launched in April 2004 and aims to encourage youth centres and projects to work towards promoting health and well-being and to address related issues for both staff and young people.

It is a joint initiative of the Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street, Easington and Sedgefield primary care trusts (PCT), and Durham County Council's Education in the Community service.

The centre and each of the young people will be presented with their awards by Kim McGarry, health promotion specialist for young people from Derwentside and Durham and Chester-le-Street PCTs .

The centre has been working to improve aspects of the young people's activity programme and is also hosting a young people's counselling service for Derwentside.

Initiatives to help address staff health and well-being are also being developed.

Young people have been taking part in a healthy cooking course and healthy eating programme, organised by health promotion specialist Gillian Watson.

Ms McGarry said: "The great thing about the Healthy Youth Work Standard is the partnership and working together.

"There are some great initiatives coming out of working together with Education in the Community.

"Centres and projects are planning all sorts of improvements, everything from smoothie bars to promote the five-a-day message, redecoration of centres to improvements to the kitchens and loos."

Senior health promotion specialist Shaun Beattie said: "Working in partnership with Education in the Community is always a great opportunity for the PCTs.

"Through sustained effort and commitment, both organisations can work together and share good practice."