YOUNGSTERS have been rewarded for their summer contributions to the community at an annual awards ceremony.

North Yorkshire Police’s Lifestyle Challenge 2017 invited young people aged between 10 and 17 to carry out a project over the summer holidays that would benefit the community.

Seventeen teams from across North Yorkshire and York took part, involving over 60 young people and 17 adult advisors.

The overall winning team was TBJ from Northallerton, who won the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire’s Community Safety Challenge.

The team comprised three youngsters who collected food and supported Hambleton FoodShare – a charity that provides emergency food parcels.

This year saw the introduction of the Suzanne Asquith Dream Come True Challenge – named after the police officer behind the programme, who died last year.

The award was won by the Northern Ninjas, four girls who held a vintage afternoon tea party and events at a care home in Ripon.

Elsewhere, Energi’s Sports Challenge was won by The Sunflowers, two girls in Crayke, Easingwold.

They sold homemade cakes to raise money for local charities, and ran an outdoor animal trail.

Sergeant Neil Northend, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “It was fantastic to see all the teams together and to celebrate the hard work and dedication these young team members carried out over the summer to help their community."

The awards ceremony took place at York Racecourse last week.