The Archbishop of York has welcomed the success of his programme to help young people engage more in their communities.

The Young Leaders Award was launched by Dr John Sentamu last year and has since been rolled out across 35 secondary schools across the north of England.

There are now around 4,000 young people taking part in the awards, which teach young people about social action and gives them first hand experience of engagement in their communities.

The aim is to inspire and equip them to be "the change they want to see" in the world around them.

The first certificates were given earlier in the week to students of Manor Church of England Academy, in York, who completed the programme.

Robin Rolls, the Archbishop of York’s Youth Trust Director said: “I am delighted the word has quickly spread about the Young Leaders Award, we’ve had such an amazing response.

"Earlier this year, our team visited a number of schools across the north west involved in the Awards. We spoke with many staff and students to get their views.

"The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with one young person saying ‘it’s amazing, - when are we doing it again.’”

So far, around 460 students have completed the Key Stage 3 Award this year.

Dr Sentamu said: “These young people are doing amazing things to change their community.

"We’ve seen them running charity events, taking part in sponsored walks, runs, bike rides and swims, working with asylum seekers and refugees, joining search and rescue parties, doing community litter picks, caring for the elderly and mentoring younger students in school. It’s been incredible.

"The more young people taking part in the Young Leaders Award and being the change they want to see, the bigger the positive impact we’ll see across communities in the north of England.”

Katy Sandham, Assistant Director of Humanities with Faith at St Anne’s Academy in Manchester, said: “The Award has been helping us to hit our citizenship targets through the community projects which is great.

"The students are developing openness to other people, more cultural awareness and a desire to serve. It’s making them aware of what is going on in the world.”