A SERIES of workshops will be staged for young people in north Durham interested in becoming community leaders.

Health, sex and drug issues will all form part of the Motivator course planned by Durham County Council's Education in the Community initiative.

The course is designed to help young people learn the skills to act as mentors for other young people. It is hoped it will create a new pool of community leaders.

Senior education in the community worker, Alan Maxwell, said: "We are already getting interest from young people who are already involved in youth projects and youth clubs, but we want to cast the net wider.

"Being young has never been easy, but there is more pressure on young people these days to experiment with things like drugs and sex.

"Sometimes young people are more likely to listen to help and advice from someone of their own age."

The workshops are aimed at people aged from 14 to 25 years and will feature a range of fun activities.

Those who attend the course, will have the opportunity to get involved with the prestigious Millennium Volunteers.

The course will take place at Chester-le-Street Youth Centre, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm every Monday, from March 18.

Anyone who is interested in taking part, is asked to call Alan Maxwell or Dean Gibbon on 0191-388 4770