A group of young people taking part in a scheme to help them secure a better future have displayed their new skills to a Government Minister.

They are all taking part in community charity Impact Arts’ Creative Pathways programme which has an 88 per cent success rate at getting teenagers into jobs, further education and training.

Employability and training minister Jamie Hepburn visited the workshop in Denniston and met the 15 members of the course.

It is part of a larger project called Our Bright Future which supports young people to lead change in their communities and local environment.

During his visit Mr Hepburn tried creating seed bombs which are used to introduce new plant life to inaccessible areas.

He said: “The young people I met were full of enthusiasm and fantastic advocates for the Creative Pathways programme.

“The work being done by Impact Arts is creating lasting change – benefiting not just those taking part but the wider community too.

“Creative and inspiring approaches like this are central to our strategy for young people in the workforce and will help us to achieve our ambition of a 40 per cent reduction in youth unemployment by 2025.”

Impact Arts, which was set up in 1994, uses the arts and creativity to build confidence and attain new skills, get participants into work or education, source work in the creative arts, enjoy better health or improve their quality of life.

The charity works with children, young people, older people and communities mainly from vulnerable groups.

Fiona Doring, acting director of Impact Arts, said: “Our aim is to help young people to lead progressive change in their communities and local environment.

“We are currently working with a group of teenagers who are learning new skills and will then give the space a makeover so it can be used by the local community in Bridgeton.

“I was a pleasure to welcome Mr Hepburn to our workshop. 

“I know the young people were thrilled to show off their skills and hopefully he enjoyed taking part in the hands-on activities.”