Two local teenagers are to take part in a top ministerial meeting in London.

Amy Pickard and Phil Shorten will travel to the capital on Monday to share their experiences of the PAWE (Personal Award for Excellence) project.

PAWE, part of the acclaimed Keighley Police Summer Scheme, gives around 50 upper-school children a year the chance to participate in a week-long residential outdoor-pursuits session. Activities include climbing and canoeing.

The young people are nominated by their schools in recognition of good behaviour and contributions to the community. Afterwards each student receives a certificate to include in their record of achievement.

Next week's event in London will give young people from throughout the country the chance to speak to senior representatives from various organisations and to influence decision makers. Among those present will be the government's Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett.

Keighley police youth services officer PC Lee Holmes will be travelling with Amy, a pupil at South Craven School, and Phil, from Oakbank. They were invited to attend through the Youth Hostel Association.

PC Holmes says: "The YHA raises money nationally to allow various groups of young people to use their facilities at a reduced rate. Over the past four years it has offered a discount for groups I take to Ambleside Youth Hostel as part of the PAWE scheme. It invited us to attend this event as a national example of a successful police partnership."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.