Inspirational youngsters at Phoenix Youth Project have been given awards for their achievements.

The celebrations at the annual general meeting recognised the hard work of youngsters who attend the project's centres in Cleator Moor, Frizington and Moor Row.

Paul Rowe, project manager of Phoenix Youth Project, said: "It was a great fun event that celebrated the last 12 months of the project and its achievements.

"Young people collected awards and certificates for their hard work throughout the past year, they helped to run the event and even performed for those in attendance."

The highlight of the performances was Georgia Herbert and Summer Burns singing Adele's When We Were Young , he said.

Awards were given to youngsters who took part in the Phoenix talent contest and for accredited awards including the Duke of Edinburgh Award and ASDAN awards.

The Youth Club Member of the Year award, has been introduced this year, in honour and memory of the late founding trustee Sheila Graham.

A shield was presented to Curtis Lynch for being Moor Row’s Youth Club Member of the year and the overall project’s youth club member of the year.

Runner ups were Bret Fairclough (Cleator Moor) and Jack Treble (Frizington) who were both awarded as youth club members of their youth groups.

Mr Rowe said: "The memorial award is a great way to commemorate and remember such a remarkable woman as Sheila who gave so much time to help others, and equally to promote and say thank you to young people for their hard work and efforts to support their youth clubs."

He said: "Curtis has volunteered in his youth club for his Duke of Edinburgh Award, like both Jack and Bret did too.

"The difference Curtis made was long after he had completed his award he continued to volunteer in the youth club as Moor Row has a shortage of volunteers currently. Curtis wanted to help keep his youth club open."

More volunteers are being sought to help run Moor Row Youth Centre, he said.

The achievements of the Phoenix Youth Project itself were also recognised.

Mr Rowe was awarded the Peter Scott Award for outstanding contribution to charity.

The project was given the gold quality ambition award by Debbie Keighley from Young Cumbria.

In the past 12 months, the project received the High Sheriff Award in recognition of great and valuable service to the community; won the best business community challenge at the West Cumbria Community Heroes Awards and was a finalist in the best youth community project category at the heroes awards.