A COMPETITION in which youngsters can give something back to their communities has launched for its fifth year.

North Yorkshire Police’s Lifestyle Challenge runs over the summer holidays and aims to give young people aged 10 - 17 a positive project to do over the long break, giving them the opportunity to improve the quality of life in their community.

The teams think of a project that they can carry out over the summer holidays that is of benefit to someone or something in North Yorkshire.

They then have until the end of September to work on their project, recording all they do in a log book provided by the police.

The log books are then submitted for judging, with the winners attending an awards ceremony in November to receive their prizes.

Projects carried out in last year’s challenge included tidying up a wood in East Cowton, clearing a church yard in Bubwith, hosting a community dog show in York, visiting care homes in York, clearing up a memorial garden in Sherburn-in-Elmet, filling Christmas shoeboxes with gifts for those in need and baking cakes for the community in Filey.

Teams wanting to take part can register online at northyorkshire.police.uk/lifestyle.

They will be sent a registration pack, including a log book to record all their work, a handbook with lots of help and advice, and a list of challenges. These are sponsored by local businesses and organisations and are full of inspiring ideas for projects.

Work can begin on July 17.

Sergeant Neil Northend, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The Lifestyle Challenge is a fun and productive way to spend the long summer holiday and, as we have seen in previous years, can bring some truly inspirational results."

To find out more about the Lifestyle Challenge, visit northyorkshire.police.uk/lifestyle, or follow North Yorkshire Police’s Youth Team on Twitter at @YouthTeamNYP.