The National Citizen Service is a great example of the good work teenagers can do for their community.

During the last few weeks one of the more criticised parts of society have excelled at their A-Levels, GCSEs and volunteer work.

Young people in this area are doing a lot of good work to help other people.

The National Citizen Service has seen a range of activities take place including clearing up beaches and churchyards across the area.

James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East saw first hand the good that the programme is doing for young people in Southend.

He described the teenage volunteers’ experience as a “valuable” thing for them to do during their summer break.

The project has encouraged them to take more pride in their community.

Often adults can be seen as guilty of seeing the worst in young people and only looking at the bad things they do.

Where reports are released of anti social behaviour by youngsters in south Essex, it is sometimes forgotten that most of our young people are doing things such as the NCS summer programme.

Their work can help to brighten up the days of many just by helping to cut a patch of grass, dig flower beds or in larger projects such as repainting a mural at Concorde Beach.

The service is a great demonstration of teenagers giving back to their community and that should continue to be encouraged and promoted.