Two Newham students helped to launch a new ‘summer of a lifteime’ project for young people.

The volunteers, Najad Osman and Muhammad Tahmid Hussain, from Newham College were at the House of Lords at the launch of the ‘Summer of a Lifetime’ project to encourage more young people from Newham to sign up and get involved.

It is a new pilot delivered by v, The National Young Volunteers Service in partnership with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust and a national network of voluntary sector, Local Authorities and Further Education Colleges.

Its aim is to give 16-year-olds the ‘summer of a lifetime’ by providing an active and enriching personal development programme promoting a culture of community and social action for three weeks over the summer holidays.

The project will allow young people the opportunity to improve skills such as team work, problem solving, leadership and communication. They will also be able to improve their employment prospects by gaining new experiences and enriching their CV.

Twelve pilot projects will run across England over the summer giving 11,000 young people the chance to get involved including the one in Newham delivered by Newham College.

The project is part of the Government’s National Citizen Service programme aimed at bringing young people from different backgrounds together to make a difference in their communities.

Dame Kelly Holmes said: “I am delighted that my charity is partnering with v to run a pilot National Citizen programme in 2011. I joined the British Army as a 17 year old; I remember not only the tough outdoor challenges I experienced but the team building, camaraderie, life skill development and the life-long friendships I made and there is no doubt it played a big part in making me the person I am today.

“I believe The National Citizen Service Programme could provide young people with a unique opportunity and experience that not only engages them in physical challenges but also gets them to communicate and integrate with other young people whilst planning projects that they will deliver in their communities to benefit local people.”