STUDENTS have produced a leaflet for young tenants of a social landlord.

Cestria Community Housing, Chester-le-Street’s biggest housing provider, asked nine Year 11 pupils at the town’s Park View School to produce a guide on moving into your first home for 16 to 25-year-olds.

The six-month Building Brighter Futures project, run with the Durham Business Education Partnership, aimed to give the teenagers challenges, to educate them about working in housing.

Martin Warhurst, Cestria’s Director of Finance and Corporate Services, said: “The style of the leaflet is fresh, inviting and informative. It really stands out from our other corporate leaflets and communicates to its intended audience – young tenants.

“It is great to be able to produce a leaflet for younger tenants, designed by them - it gives it great credibility.”

The students’ achievements were recognised with awards.The winners received certificates and Metro Centre shopping vouchers.

The winning leaflet team was Diversatile Equalities made up of Annie O’Mara, Paul Whitfield and Jordan Beattie.

The Most Committed Team winners were Fusion including Tom Sirrell, Katelyn Dockery and Samantha Wilson and the Most Committed Individual prize was awarded to Jordan Beattie. The Rising Stars award was presented to Samantha Wilson and Lewis Greensmith.

In addition to the project, Cestria has also provided work experience placements for four students including Daniel Lawrence in Building Services, Paul Whitfield in Finance, Katelyn Dockery in Technical Services/ Architecture and Lewis Greensmith who is completing a photography placement.

David Nisbet, Assistant Headteacher at Park View, said: "Cestria Community Housing created a fantastic opportunity for our students to really shine, giving them the confidence to work together on a real-life project and present their ideas to a live audience.”