Young people from across Wiltshire celebrated the past year’s successful youth projects at a ceremony in Westbury.

More than 500 young people joined the celebrations at Club Ice, in Quartermaster Road, Westbury, on Thursday, after a number of grants were awarded last year by the Wiltshire Young People’s Opportunity Fund (WYPOF).

The fund has paid out over £215,000 in 12 months for events and projects for young people and a further £180,000 was spent on capital works for youngsters.

Among those to receive grants were Westbury Youth Shelter and Corsham Young Women’s Group.

The women’s group based at Mansion House, Corsham, were able to use a grant to fund a 10-week dance project.

WYPOF was set up using money from the Department for Children, Schools and Families and has been administered by Wiltshire Council and young people themselves.

A judging panel of youngsters were on hand at the event to award certificates to project organisers.

David Whewell, head of development service for young people at Wiltshire Council, said: “Young people have consistently proven they are able to develop new and interesting programmes and projects for themselves and their peers.”

Each of the funded projects have produced short videos for www.sparksite.co.uk, a website for young people.