YOUNG people taking part in the award-winning Routes to Opportunity programme at Milford Haven youth centre have been celebrating their success.

A partnership between Pembrokeshire Youth and Milford Youth Matters and funded by the Big Lottery, it helps those between 16 and 25 into work via a host of social enterprise schemes

The support it gives young people has already been recognised at a national level by the Welsh Government and Keep Wales Tidy and the programme is now in its third year

In a Celebration of Success evening on Friday (April 27), participants received certificates in relation to a range of work-related qualifications and also recognition for their efforts in becoming active members of their communities.

The schemes they have been involved in include a community allotment; gardening and woodwork shops and a café.

Other community initiatives involve a weekly lunch for pensioners and a project which makes and distributes wooden tool boxes to Africa - a scheme run in partnership with Milford Haven Rotary Club.

Dayle Gibby, the Milford Youth Matters Co-ordinator, said that Routes to Opportunity not only helped young people make the transition to further or higher education and employment, but also built resilience and self-confidence.

“We encourage participants to actively use these skills to make a positive contribution in their communities” he added.

Also in attendance were representatives from a range of businesses and organisations that support the project locally including Tesco, Valero refinery at Pembroke, Pace and Viva Verde Café.

“These organisations make sure the skills we are developing with young people are relevant to our labour market in the county” explained Nick Hudd, Senior Practitioner with the Pembrokeshire Youth Service.

“The programme demonstrates what can be achieved when departments of the local authority proactively work with partners from the voluntary and commercial sectors.

All stakeholders involved in this project share one common goal - to improve the opportunities for young people in Pembrokeshire.”