CREATIVE youngsters helped to brighten up their Newport estate, thanks to an inspirational scheme.

An exhibition of mosaic panels, as well as a dragon sculpture made of railway sleepers, is the latest venture by young people involved in the project at Lliswerry Park Drive, Alway.

The group of eight- to 20-year-olds has also taken part in other community activities, such as car washing and making hanging baskets.

For every hour they work they receive points, which they save to spend on trips which have included road driving, trips to the theatre, pottery and adventure days out.

Dreamscheme, which was launched by Charter Housing last year, has worked with more than 30 youths in Lliswerry Park Drive.

It is funded privately through the association's own budget, and is due for evaluation in October with the aim of extending the model into other areas where Charter works in the community.

The housing association also secured funding for a specific environment project from Newport city council's community grants scheme.

Part of it involved workshops at the Riverfront Arts Centre, and the young people worked alongside local community artists who taught them the necessary skills to complete the artworks, which were unveiled by Newport's mayor, Councillor Ken Critchley.

Dreamscheme is an organisation set up on a Sheffield housing estate in 1995 that aims to inspire and enable communities across the world to release the potential of their young people.

Charter was one of the first housing associations to implement the scheme in South Wales, and it is run by youth projects officer worker, Anna Prosser, and supported by members of the Charter's Community Initiative Team.