YOUNG people are often portrayed in a bad light but a group of Oxfordshire teenagers are doing their best to prove that wrong.

A group of 16 and 17 years olds are celebrating after 'graduating' from a county leadership programme.

The team of eight have recently completed the Young Leaders Programme, which is run by Oxfordshire Youth and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management.

Sarah Kent, Jaide Deakin and Lydia Halsey, who are part of youth group Didcot Train, Angel Charlett, Bethaney Singleton, Nancy Peacock and Heather O'Connor, of the Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground and Joel Dewson who is an apprentice with William Lucy all achieved a pass or a good on the course.

At an event on December 1, hosted at Oxford Brookes University, they joined family, friends, youth workers and employers to receive certificates and celebrate their success.

Speaking afterwards, Angel Charlett said: "I feel proud of myself. I understand how to be a better leader and I have more confidence."

Joel Dewson said: "There was a really good atmosphere. (I developed) good life skills I can use elsewhere."

Oxfordshire Youth training manager Laura Dennis said: "The dedication of this group has been really impressive.

"As part of the programme, learners are required to carry out a leadership activity in their community and we’ve seen young people helping to run sports and gender empowerment schemes, and running craft activities for younger children.

"We’re proud to be introducing another group of young leaders back into the community, where we know they’re already making a positive impact."

The programme takes place over a two-night residential visit, usually over a weekend. People taking part try outdoor activities like rock climbing and raft building while undertaking 'leadership workshops', completing a logbook of their work.

After this, participants are asked to go back to their communities and run an activity or take responsibility for something new.

It is a scheme is designed to develop key leadership skills such as communication, time management, delegation and stress management, as well as young people’s self-confidence and independence.

Alice Dore, a youth worker at Didcot Train, said: "At Train we value the contribution Young people make to their Communities. We were looking for opportunities where young people could further their skills and experiences in this area.

"The young women returned from this experience having gained in confidence and self esteem and also motivated to find opportunities within Train and Oxfordshire where the could take a lead."

Through the programme, Oxfordshire Youth has worked with over 140 young people to date. It is set to run again in February 2017.

At the event this month, youngsters also graduated from the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme.

This helps to prepare young people for work and adult life and includes opportunities to a stay at an outdoor activity centre, train in new skills, meet new people and plan and run a project.

It is available to people aged 15 to 17.

Those graduating on December 1 included eight young people who learned about a range of topics from female genital mutilation to mental health.

They also learnt presentation skills and project management and undertook a 'social action project', making a short video to celebrate youth workers and explain they are important.

The young people were awarded their official NCS certificates, with many also achieving an OCN level 2 qualification in leadership, awarded by Ambition.

The next NCS programme will take place in summer 2017 and will offer 1,200 places.

For information visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/national-citizen-service-oxfordshire

For information about Oxfordshire Youth, visit oxfordshireyouth.org or call Laura Dennis on 01865 767 899.