A group of hard working teenagers were today celebrating winning a £15,500 lottery grant which will enable them to make their mark on Canvey.

A further £1,000 grant from the Essex County Youth Service will see the group of eight young people turning their ideas into a reality.

Youngsters at the Images youth centre, in Furtherwick Road, applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund, under its Young Roots project scheme, nearly a year ago.

Youth worker Sue Danials has been helping the group with their fundraising efforts.

She said: "It's been a long wait, but well worth it. It's such a big achievement for them - successfully getting funding from two different organisations."

The cash is to be spent developing a bronze sculpture, set to be the centre piece of the island's first heritage garden. Research into the island's roots and social history is to form a big part of this.

Published Tuesday April 6, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo