MOST of them were recruited through a Daily Echo advert which asked if they wanted to change their lives.

Now, the latest batch of young people on the Prince's Trust Team Programme in the Southampton area - sponsored and administered by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service - are proving to be record-breakers.

Not only are they streets ahead in terms of attendance on the course but they have raised nearly £1,000 to fund their chosen community project of creating a wildlife conservation area at Springhill Catholic Primary School in Hill Lane, Southampton, in a little over three weeks.

The project will include clearance of the area, building a wheelchair access, planting shrubs and the creation of earthworks.

Having chosen and designed the project, the team was faced with raising the money for the materials and supplies and began their drive with a sponsored abseil during a week-long visit to Dartmoor.

Bag packing at Asda in Chandler's Ford and Southampton added to their fund before they staged a car wash event at Hampshire Constabulary's training centre at Netley.

Fifteen young people aged between 16 and 25 signed up as the ninth team to go through a 12-week development programme at the beginning of September and 13 are still going strong, supported by team leaders Adrian Starr from Hampshire police and Neil Perry from the fire service.

The scheme has been running about two years but Adrian said: "This team is smashing all records. They genuinely want direction and, for a lot of them, this is the first real experience of a normal working life. The results are stunning and it makes a real difference to their lives."

The free personal development course is open to anyone between 16 and 25 and enables young people from all walks of life to work together to help their communities and then move on to employment, training or education.

But Adrian said: "We are particularly keen to attract applications from the long-term unemployed, young offenders, care leavers and those with no formal qualifications.

"The young people increase their employability through a series of individual and team challenges that are designed to develop confidence and self-esteem, motivation, qualifications and experience. It is a programme that changes attitudes."

More teams will be run next year covering the Southamp-ton, New Forest and Basingstoke areas. For further details call 07818 095449.