TEENAGE girls from Newton Aycliffe have banded together to help children and families affected by cancer.

Six youngsters from Us Girls Sedgefield, who meet weekly at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, have teamed up with the Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust to plan an ambitious programme of events.

The group will be providing free activities for families and children currently supported by the trust over a nine to 12 month period.

Abbie Foster, fundraising and marketing manager of The Key, a North-East youth charity which works with the teens on a skills development programme, said: “The Key aims to inspire belief in young people by delivering our unique framework, which supports young people to discover what they’re truly capable of and build their skills and self-confidence for the future.

"It was great to see the Us Girls take their passions for helping others and turn them into a project that will have a lasting impact on their chosen community.

"This is what The Key is all about and it’s great to see the young people break barriers and take the initiative.”

Activities proposed so far for the project include trips to Seven Stories and the Discovery Museum, in Newcastle, Planet Leisure, in Newton Aycliffe, Preston Park, in Stockton-on-Tees.

The idea is that these will provide opportunities for families to spend time together and make lasting memories.

Laura Langdale, US Girls support worker said: “It has been an incredible experience to watch the girls grow and develop.

"The group have excelled all of my expectations and their self-confidence has boomed.

"I am so proud of all their hard work, commitment and determination to give something back to their local community.”