A TEAM of Grimsby Institute students are working with the Grimsby Telegraph to give them first-hand experience of journalism.

It is the second group of multi-platform journalism degree students to have a regular placement in the newsroom.

They are going out into areas of North East Lincolnshire to pick up stories, shadowing staff reporters and photographers and creating videos.

Course leader Emma Lingard said: "The media industry is getting harder to get into, especially now that employers are expecting more journalists to have multi-media skills so they understand how to write and perform for newspaper, radio, TV and online.

"The course the students are on is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), and is seen as one of the best journalism courses in the UK.

"The placement with the Telegraph is a perfect opportunity for anyone wanting to be a journalist to gain some hands-on experience.

"It's been great, too, to see the confidence of the students develop over the weeks they have been in the newsroom so far. Working alongside the professionals has boosted it tremendously.

"One of the students from the first group who took part, Richard York, now has a job reporting at the Telegraph, so it proves how useful it is in real terms."

Telegraph news editor Lucy Wood added: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the student reporters to find out what working for a busy daily newspaper is all about."

The students will be with the Grimsby Telegraph until the end of April, so keep looking out for their work.

If you have a story for the student reporter team, e-mail newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk with 'Student Reporters' in the subject box.

DIG this right Royal occasion!

The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire Councillor Mike Burton and Grimsby in Bloom have planted on oak tree sapling from the Royal gardens at the Sandringham Estate.

The majestic tree will grow at Green Futures at the Vanson Centre, in Bradley Road, Grimsby.

Carol Perendergast, chief officer at Green Futures says the planting was very symbolic.

"It represents our future and stands for further development.

"We will be here for many more years just like this tree.

"The tree was donated to us as a symbol of our future and partnership with the Grimsby In Bloom organisation.

"This event highlights the hard work of all our volunteers and all the people on placement. Without them we wouldn't be here."

Green Futures is made up of a range of volunteers who are working together to create a Great Green Grimsby.

The royal sapling was blessed by the Grimsby Morris Men, who performed a dance.

Elaine Atkinson, chairman of Grimsby In Bloom said: "The sapling was donated to North East Lincolnshire Council by the Sandringham estate.

"It will take 20 or 30 years to fully grow and we hope that Green Futures will grow with it. The mayor has planted the tree and continues a tradition we started last year."

Mr Burton said: "Green Futures is a wonderful project. They have worked very hard but there is always more to do."

To find out more about Green Futures call 01472 870609.

A GRIMSBY band are hoping they can find some luck after fire wrecked their rehearsal room.

The band, aptly named Unfortunate, have been left without anywhere to practise after the blaze earlier this year.

Fish merchants Ben Sleight Jnr Ltd on Murray Street, Grimsby, was destroyed by an electrical fire in the early hours of February 8.

The band had used the building to meet and rehearse as well as store all their equipment.

Band member Kieran Hough, 24, of Winchester Avenue, says losing the building has been really tough on the band.

"We had been practising there for seven months. We had everything stored there, £20,000 worth of equipment, including guitars and amps.

"Luckily, we only lost a few small bits but everything was smoke damaged. If the fire had lasted 30 seconds more we could have lost everything. The electrical fault could have started a fire when we were practising, it's scary really.

"We didn't have insurance, so it would have been very hard to replace everything.

"Since we lost the factory we have not been able to meet as a band more than a couple times. It's been really hard to keep practising but we have pulled together.

"Our friends Signature 67 have let us use their space a few times but we really need our own place."

Unfortunate are hoping someone has a suitable space they can use.

"We need a space that's about 20ft by 20ft with somewhere secure to keep our equipment and an electrical hook-up. We can pay rent, we just need somewhere suitable.

"Having your own room lets the band come together and really progress."

Unfortunate will be playing their first gig since the fire alongside Signature 67 at the Old Lloyds Arms, Victoria Street, on March 31, from 7pm. Entry is free.

If you have space or know of someone that does, find the band on Facebook.

AN ACADEMY is to have detailed talks with parents after concerns were raised about standards.

Last week, Ormiston Maritime Academy principal Elaine Davies came under fire when the school was judged "inadequate" by Ofsted.

The report was released following its first full inspection since converting from Hereford Technology School in 2011.

While defending the school, Mrs Davies said: "We have a better calibre of staff than we ever did at Hereford" – which has sparked a furious backlash from former staff and pupils, including former head Jim Cunningham.

They contacted the Grimsby Telegraph and posted more than 50 comments on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk to air their dismay, labelling the claim as "abhorrent".

The reaction has caused the academy to arrange to speak with parents after Easter, and has denied there was "any intended criticism" in the principal's comment.

Mr Cunningham, who left the school in 2008 after 11 years, defended his former team, pointing out that Hereford was consistently higher than second from bottom in the local league tables – Ormiston's current ranking.

He also highlighted that Hereford's five A*-C GCSE results improved year-on-year from 1998 to 2008, and staff turnover was low, therefore, they were central in improving standards in that period

Mr Cunningham said: "When I left Hereford, I worked with North East Lincolnshire Council on two schools which had been placed in special measures.

"Neither they, nor indeed the previous head teachers of these schools, ever blamed the calibre of staff for their demise.

"The authority was very clear that the problem was always leadership, and particularly the one in charge of leadership.

"I assume that the Ormiston Trust operates by different principles, the implication being that the staff from Hereford were chiefly responsible for Ofsted's judgement on the school being inadequate."

Former teacher Heather Boothroyd, who worked at Hereford for 20 years, said: "Thank goodness I left before Mrs Davies was appointed to Hereford.

"I cannot understand why Mrs Davies has come to the conclusion that the calibre of the staff at Hereford School was 'nowhere near as good as the current staff'."

And former pupil Leon Ward, 21, said: "The school wasn't perfect but I find her reflections on my teachers unfair and am disappointed that she has made these comments when some of them are still employed by the school.

"They were all special and I want them to know that they've had an enormous impact on mine and others' lives."

"IT'S not the years in your life but the life in your years."

A Tweet by 33-year-old Carl Robinson just weeks before he died suddenly after collapsing on Cleethorpes High Street in the early hours of the morning.

The parents of the sporty 33-year-old electrician have paid tribute to "the perfect son" following an inquest into his untimely death.

Carl, of Nicholson Road, Healing, was walking back from a night out in After Dark in Cleethorpes at 3.55am on July 1, last year, when he suddenly collapsed.

A passer-by gave him CPR and called an ambulance but he was pronounced dead at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales hospital at 5.50am that morning.

At an inquest into his death, the court heard that toxicology reports from the post mortem examination revealed he had not drunk heavily or taken any drugs.

His mother Edna described Carl as "the perfect son" and wept as coroner Paul Kelly recorded that he had died of natural causes – Sudden Adult Death Syndrome – a totally unexplained heart attack.

After the inquest, Carl's parents said the result offered little closure, with dad Fred adding that it "makes no sense" that someone so fit and healthy could be taken from them.

However, they took comfort in how much he had achieved, summed up by the prophetic Tweet Carl had posted just six weeks before he died.

Edna, 58, said: "He had achieved everything that he set out to and did more in his 33 years on this earth than most people could do if they live to be 80."

Carl was sporty from a young age and played football for Immingham Pilgrims, swam for the Grimsby Cleethorpes and District Swimming Club but later in life found his real passion, playing Rugby for Barton RUFC.

He had seen England play rugby both at Twickenham and in France and even met his heroes Johnny Wilkinson and Laurence Dellaglio – who sent a message of sympathy after Carl's death. Carl liked to travel and visited 28 countries in his life, including Mexico, Jamaica, and many parts of the USA, such as Florida and Las Vegas – where he saw boxing legend Joe Calzaghe's last fight.

After going to North and South Killingholme Primary, then Immingham Comprehensive, he did an apprenticeship to become an electrician and later set up his own business.

In recent years he had been doing well for himself and he bought his dream car, a red Mercedes SL500, just weeks before he died.

Dad Fred said that shortly after buying the car, he chauffeured a friend's son to and from his prom in Doncaster after the car they hired let them down at the last minute – the sort of act that summed him up.

Fred, 57, said: "He was thoughtful and considerate and had time for everybody so if he could help, he would help – nothing was too much effort for him.

"I honestly don't think we could have had a better son if we were allowed to pick one."

After Carl's death, floral tributes were laid on Cleethorpes High Street by many well-wishers who knew the popular, sporty young man.

More than 500 people attended his funeral at North Killingholme Church, and after the inquest, Fred and Edna opened a memory box for the first time, which contained hundreds of messages about Carl's warmth, compassion – and his cheeky grin.

Edna added: "We had such a bond – he was never out of contact for more than a day and we still expect him to ring or pop round."

Girlfriend Hayley Darwood, 30, of New Waltham, had been with Carl for three years before his sudden death.

"He was a very big part of my life and not a day goes by when he's not in my thoughts," she said.

THERE will be a familiar face for Mariners fans in the Wembley crowd on Sunday – last season's Supporters Young Player of the Year, Conor Townsend.

The full-back spent much of the last campaign on loan at Blundell Park, impressing Town fans with his mature performances before returning to parent club Hull City.

Now on loan at League Two Chesterfield, the 20-year-old has great memories of his time with the Mariners, and is hoping for a few more on Sunday.

"I'm heading down to Wembley with my dad to watch the final," he told the Telegraph.

"We're going down on one of the coaches that my dad used to travel on last season – he became quite good friends with the people on the bus while I was at Town so he's kept in touch.

"When we heard that they had got to Wembley, he said 'do you fancy going?' So I jumped at the chance.

"I'm really looking forward to it. It's a great day out for all the fans and it will be really nice to see some of the people I got to know last year through my time at Blundell Park."

Townsend played his part in Town's run to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy last season, and is delighted that they've gone two steps further this time around.

"Obviously, I keep a look-out to see how Town are doing," Townsend added.

"It was a really good time for me while I was there and I'll always have fond memories of the club.

"It's a great achievement for the club to get to Wembley. It will be a tough game but I'm confident Town can win it.

"I still speak to some of the lads other there. Obviously, Jamie Devitt is someone I know quite well and recently I spoke to Liam Hearn on Twitter.

"He's been out for almost the whole season so that's been really tough on him – but what better way to come back than to play at Wembley and get the win?

"I'm at Chesterfield this season. It's going okay – we're just outside the play-offs and it's a big ask to get there, but you never know. There's always one team that makes a late run.

"I'm enjoying my football and just doing whatever I can to improve."

GRIMSBY Town's bosses have their biggest selection headache of the entire campaign ahead of the FA Trophy final.

The Mariners had suffered their biggest blip of the season going into the Wembley showdown, losing four matches in a row.

Throw injuries, ineligibility, comebacks and illness into the mix, and the co-managers have some big decisions to make.

"I would have loved to had 18 players all performing well and giving us a positive selection headache," said Rob Scott.

"That's not the case so we will be selecting a team that we feel is appropriate for Sunday.

"It's never nice leaving people out but it's made it a little bit easier because nobody has forced our hand on that front."

With Tom Naylor ineligible after joining on loan after the first leg of the semi-final, Derek Niven's return from an adductor tendon injury could solve a problem in centre-midfield.

However, the Scot only resumed training yesterday after more than two weeks on the sidelines.

"Derek is all right but whether he is going to be right for Sunday, we'll have to look at that right up to the last minute," added Scott.

"He's probably pushing it and we've got to err on the side of caution even if he does declare himself fit. We can't go into it 50 or 60 per cent, we need to be right.

"Is he up to game-pace? No, not by a long chalk. So whether he is ready we'll have to wait and see.

"Frankie Artus is available and so is Andi Thanoj, so we've got a few options in there if not."

Centre-half Shaun Pearson sat out training yesterday with a knock, while left-back Aswad Thomas has been ill this week.

And striker Liam Hearn continued his comeback with a 60-minute outing for Town's Reserves on Wednesday.

"For Liam, it's looking a little way off," said Scott.

"He'll be in the travelling squad but whether he's in the match-day 16 is a bit of a guessing game."

THE planned £6 million transformation of Grimsby town centre has received a mixed response from Grimsby Telegraph readers. As revealed on Wednesday, work on redeveloping the Riverhead and Station Approach areas of the town will get underway in May. Here are some of your thoughts. Post your own online at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk

"THERE is no doubt that we desperately need a new bus station. I cannot believe anyone could design a layout so badly – how did it get passed by our planning committee?

"At times there is gridlock, with buses unable to leave their bays. I am amazed that there has not been a serious accident with pedestrians taking the shortcut to their bus.

"We must get it right this time. There is a lot of money at stake, our money."

George Proctor, Scartho Road, Grimsby

"What would get the heart of Grimsby flowing again is a connecting road from New Street to Frederick Ward Way, and leave the bus station as is, serviceable."

Grimrich

"This is a great project, brings much-needed changes, and creates a smarter town centre.

"This project is more environmentally friendly with better access from trains and also buses with new electric boards, which will give more accurate times.

"There needs to be more projects like this which improve and create growth in the area. I look forward to when it's completed."

Pete123456789

"Personally I feel £6 million (of our money) would do better down Freemo – get the shops reopened, get people back in work."

Screwkev

"What's the point? Remember when Riverside was built and it would 'transform' Grimsby town centre into a classy hub for people to meet and enjoy themselves.

"It's nice that they are taking an interest in trying to make town into a nice place, but it will just end up vandalised by the feral rat kids and drunks that frequent the area. It's a lost cause."

Regan1

"When will some people realise that this is Grimsby and not some swanky suburb of Paris or the harbour in Monte Carlo?

"Do you seriously imagine families sitting around sipping cappuccino and shouting bravo to stilt walkers and jugglers on a sunny weekend?

"Will mime artists and talented portrait sketchers jostle for space amongst the performing dogs and pavement gymnasts?

"No, no, no, we all know the reality ... this is Grimsby."

SammyTheSnake

"I don't understand their interpretation of the word bus station. Six million pounds will be wasted on moving a collection of bus shelters around. This idea does not constitute a transport hub.

"I'm all for investment, but yet again this is another opportunity lost.

"The area around the new bus shelters and unused cycle-ways and walkways will still be a no-go area for decent folk once night descends."

Kizzymeg

Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph for an in-depth feature on what the changes will mean for bus passengers, taxi drivers and motorists.

In Wednesday's report, photographs of Betty Edge and Marian Holling were mixed up. We apologise for any confusion caused.

NEWS that Grimsby's ambulance station could be saved has been welcomed.

North East Lincolnshire Councillor Peggy Elliott, chairman of the health, housing and wellbeing scrutiny panel, believes latest proposals from East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) are the best for this area.

Bosses at EMAS have spent the past few months considering feedback from the public, in response to its Being The Best proposals – ideas which will reshape the service.

As a result, it has now published final recommendations, which include keeping both the Grimsby and Louth stations. A final decision will be made by the board on Monday.

Councillor Elliott said: "The health panel's main worry on the previous plans was shutting the Grimsby station and having the nearest 'hub station' in Elsham where bad weather can cause issues.

"Also staff from Grimsby and Cleethorpes would have to travel there and back each day to sign in and out at work.

"I am delighted these latest recommendations plan to save Grimsby's station and they also include ambulance facilities in both Immingham and Cleethorpes.

"We have the Humber bank factories which are always a worry if accidents happen, so it is reassuring to see that EMAS has listened.

"We just have to keep our fingers crossed for Monday."

The service has proposed to close 65 ambulance stations as part of a shake-up of the organisation aimed at improving response time targets.

Plans announced last year included replacing the stations, including Grimsby's on Gilbey Way, with 13 hub stations – the nearest to Grimsby being in Elsham – and 118 community ambulance points.

That has now been revised to nine hubs – the nearest based in Scunthorpe, as well as 19 stations including in Grimsby and Louth and more than 100 community ambulance points with toilet, rest and eating facilities. Two of these would be in Cleethorpes and Immingham.

East Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive Phil Milligan said: "The aim of our Being The Best change programme has always been to improve response times to emergency 999 calls and to improve the working lives of our frontline staff.

"The decision we make on Monday has to be right for our patients and right for our staff.

"We have listened to the responses received during the consultation and we have developed and shaped our plans using that feedback.

"I am confident that we will get it right for the people of the East Midlands."

FOR Ross Hannah, ending his goal drought in a Grimsby Town triumph at Wembley would be "what dreams are made of."

The striker couldn't stop scoring for the Mariners during a three-month loan spell at Blundell Park before Christmas.

But since completing a permanent transfer from Bradford City in January, the goals have dried up. In fact, the 26-year-old is yet to add to his nine goals in a Town shirt.

The man who once netted 52 times in a single season for Matlock Town admits he couldn't pick a better time and place to break his barren spell than Sunday's FA Trophy final at Wembley.

"That's what dreams are made of," he told the Telegraph. "I don't want to curse myself but it is in the back of my mind.

"I can't begin to think what I'd feel like if I scored and we won at Wembley.

"If you had said that I wasn't going to score from when I signed, but I'd score at Wembley and then go on a run to get us promoted, I'd have taken that!

"If I go a game without scoring I'm frustrated because I always want to score – I'm no different to any other striker.

"But you've got to keep believing in yourself and believing that when you get a chance you'll put it away.

"Even the top players in the Premier League have runs without scoring – it happens to the best – so you've got to take some encouragement from that.

"Going back to Bradford and not knowing what was happening probably knocked me out of my rhythm a bit.

"But I can't blame that. It sometimes just happens – I need a scrappy goal off my backside or whatever to get me going again."

Hannah could have enjoyed his first match at Wembley a month earlier, had he remained with the Bantams for the conclusion of their Capital One Cup run

"Growing up, it's a place where you dream of playing one day and it is rare at our level that you get a chance to play there – I'm relishing it," he added.

"I was involved in the Capital One Cup semi-final at Bradford, so I knew how close they were and how much the place was buzzing.

"I came to Grimsby permanently just before the second leg and we were still in this competition. I thought at the time 'I might miss out with Bradford, but I could still get there with Town.'

"That's become a reality and obviously doesn't happen every day – sometimes things just work out like that.

"I can remember watching my mates at Bradford playing in the final – they'd sent me a few pictures the day before of them at Wembley having a look around.

"It was exactly a month before our final and I was thinking 'we'll be down there experiencing it ourselves soon.'

"We are now, and we owe the fans, gaffers and ourselves a performance. We need everybody to be proud of Grimsby Town, which is what we want going into every game, but especially on Sunday."

TRANSPORT Minister Simon Burns has promised to see if there's a way to "make life easier" for passengers as the Cleethorpes to Doncaster rail line is repaired.

During a Parliamentary debate on the disruption, caused by a landslide last month, Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers suggested "deregulating" some ticket restrictions.

This would allow passengers to get to Cleethorpes from London via Newark without paying a higher fare for leaving before 7pm.

Mr Vickers told MPs that East Coast, which runs the line, was not prepared to do that.

"I subsequently wrote to East Coast, but, sadly, it has not as yet bothered to reply," he said.

"It does not seem unreasonable to request that, for the 18.03 from King's Cross to Newark, which has a good connection through to Grimsby, it could provide a derestriction to allow passengers to Barnetby, Habrough and Grimsby to use that service."

At the moment, a replacement bus service is taking passengers between Scunthorpe and Doncaster, from which East Coast rail services are running normally.

In response, Mr Burns said ticketing was "a matter for the train operators", but he promised to "ask them if they will look at the issue to see if there is a way that might help to make life easier" for Mr Vickers' constituents.

Mr Vickers also voiced concern that hundreds of passengers might be "permanently lost" to First TransPennine.

He said: "It is losing 25-30 per cent of its customers from Grimsby and Cleethorpes, which equates to 2,500 a week.

"Those people who wanted to come to Cleethorpes at Easter and into the summer season will be lost to the tourist trade. "The inconvenience is not only to individual travellers, including Members of Parliament, I have to say, but more importantly to people accessing leisure services. It has a real impact on the local economy, and that is particularly relevant with the approach of the Easter weekend, which is the traditional start of the tourist season."

Mr Vickers acknowledged the "difficulties" faced by First TransPennine. "The priority is to get the line clear and get at least a limited service up and running," he said. "At a conservative estimate, that will take another 12 to 16 weeks."

He also used his debate to repeat his call for a direct rail service between Grimsby, Cleethorpes and London.

He said: "At the moment, there is an East Midlands train that goes from Lincoln to King's Cross in the morning and King's Cross to Lincoln in the evening.

"It would be a golden opportunity to test the market for a future service if that route could be extended to Cleethorpes for a short time."

ON THE WEB: View video footage of the damage caused by the landslide at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk

SHOCKED residents have said they want to move away after police carried out a drugs raid on a home just yards from a school gate.

A quantity of controlled drugs were seized in the raid, which happened at about 10am on Wednesday in Cooper Lane, Laceby, just yards from Stanford Junior and Infants School.

A number of people were given warnings for the possession of cannabis by Humberside Police officers, who also seized vehicles including a car, quad bike and three motorcycles.

Today, a resident, who did not wish to be named, told how he wants to leave the area because of a "worrying" drugs problem.

He said: "We are all profoundly worried about it. Everyone around here is retired; we bought this as our retirement home.

"The raid has rocked everybody. The question is whether we stay and live near to drugs activity or move away and lose everything we have worked and saved for.

"I am highly supportive of the police and it gives us reassurance that they have acted on the intelligence they have received, but they can't be around 24/7.

"We feel shocked, concerned and intimidated."

He said residents were shocked that drugs were seized from a property just yards from a school, and claimed estate agents who rent out the two-storey house should have been "more selective" when choosing tenants.

A spokeswoman for the school said staff and pupils were "shocked" to witness the raid.

Inspector Neil Pattison, Neighbourhood Team Inspector at Humberside Police, said a number of people had been interviewed for possession of controlled drugs and drugs were recovered.

He said: "Several motor vehicles have been recovered for examination and one vehicle in relation to document offences.

"Humberside Police are taking this problem very seriously and seek the support of the community in reducing the problem of drugs within the community."

He urged anyone with information to contact his team directly on 01472 725908, or call the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A GROUP raised £4,620 when an RAF man decided to hold a charity night instead of a leaving do before moving away.

Emma and Liam Hopcroft joined forces with friend Lynsey Chessman to raise money for St Andrew's Children's Hospice, where Lynsey's daughter Scarlett, 1, goes for daycare.

Scarlett has a rare syndrome called macrocephaly-capillary malformation – affecting just 200 people world-wide, resulting in blindness, delayed development and low muscle tone.

So when Liam, 27, heard he was moving to RAF Marham, instead of a leaving do he and wife Emma, 27, decided they would hold a charity night at the Smuggler's Inn, Cleethorpes.

Liam said: "Us RAF boys are always moving about and I didn't want all the attention, so we decided to do something positive instead."

The idea spiraled out of control and before they knew it, there was an almost endless supply of raffle tickets and donations came in from all over the country.

Julie Cummings, 53, manager of the Smuggler's, said it was so busy that it reminded her of the days before the financial crisis when pubs were busy at the weekends.

"We worked for a living that night," she added.

People made donations before picking up the mic for karaoke, the raffle took almost an hour as so many prizes had been donated and there was a pool tournament to raise even more money.

Liam added: "It was a pretty wild night and we couldn't believe how busy it got.

"You know the atmosphere's buzzing when you've got a 50-year-old man singing Dizzee Rascal's Bonkers on the karaoke – we couldn't get my dad off all night!"

The group had set a fairly ambitious target of £1,000 at first, but when all the money was in, they raised a total of £4,620 – and there may be more to come in if other funding they have applied for comes through.

Emma said: "It was really packed. So many people helped us make it a success."

The couple moved from their home in Poplar Grove, Cleethorpes, to RAF Marham on Thursday, although this may not be the last local charity gig they organise.

Liam said: "We really want to do another party here at The Smuggler's next year and I'm thinking of doing the Three Peaks Challenge, so maybe I can roll money from the night and sponsorship into one and top the amount we raised this year."

Lisa Courtney, fundraiser for St Andrew's Hospice, said: "This is an amazing achievement and it was a real community effort – we can't thank these guys enough."

For more information on St Andrew's Hospice, including how to donate, visit www.standrewshospice.com

YOUNG leaders are trying to shed the "uncool" image of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Grace Elliott, Lucy Chapman and Harry Croucher have set themselves a task of improving the award's brand and are appealing for more young people to "Take The Challenge" – the famous D of E slogan.

A gold D of E award is worth 80 UCAS points when applying for university and Grace, 17, of New Waltham, is convinced it helped her get an offer to study medicine at Sheffield University next year.

However, it's the much simpler benefits that these three young people want others to realise in the hope of convincing more to sign up.

Harry, 18, of Tetney, said: "I have such a good time doing the D of E but whenever you talk about it with your friends, people seem to laugh in your face.

"It's this bad reputation that we need to shift so that people realise it's fun and you can do it with your own friends."

Lucy, 17, of new Waltham, said: "People think the D of E is "uncool" but I disagree – it's lots of fun.

"It's a shame that people have that attitude because anyone who gives it a chance will realise everything that it has to offer.

"You get to meet lots of new people, it can help you with your confidence, and you have experiences you would never have without it."

Young people who want to do D of E can choose the bronze award when they reach age 14, then choose to go on to the silver and the gold awards. It involves completing tasks in five different areas – skill, sport, volunteer, residential and expedition.

The award conjures up images of trekking through fields on rainy days for many people – although young people at the Heneage Road base do a lot more than walking.

There is the opportunity to learn music, climbing, health and beauty, personal training skills, cooking and a number of conservation projects such as tree planting and allotment work – and those are just a few.

Sue Campbell, project leader for the D of E, said: "It's amazing what these young people can achieve when they put their minds to it – things that they didn't even think were possible.

"There is such a wide variety of people who take the challenge and they all react in different ways.

"Some start cocky and start to lose their bravado as the tasks get difficult but when they realise that it is possible, they come out with a new kind of confidence.

"We have a number of people with disabilities and try to focus on what they can do rather than what they can't.

"Anyone can achieve with the D of E."

PUPILS donned builders hats and painters clothes as they learnt the process of planning permission and building.

Children at William Barcroft Junior School took part in the Build A Better School day as the school is undergoing an extension of two classrooms.

They were given a project to build music studios to sports halls and applied for planning permission, designed the build and got quotes for how much it would cost.

Head teacher and site manager for the day Claire Constantopoulous said: "The children have loved it and they have had a fantastic time – however, they will be disappointed when they realise their designs won't be built!

"Our builders from the site have been round and spoken to the students about what is involved with building.

"I think they have realised there is much more to the process with planning permission beforehand."

The school is being extended because of an increase in pupil numbers, and this year's intake will increase to 90 from 75.

Pupil Sophie Setterfield, 8, was dressed as a painter. She said: "I have learnt how to draw a blue print design and I am helping with the building of an art and design studio.

"I have been drawing plug sockets and how many windows the building has.

"It is quite complicated so I wouldn't want to be involved in this job when I'm older; I want to be a model so I can visit New York."

Lewis Clarke, 9, was a builder for the science laboratory project, he added: "In the laboratory there will be benches and different chemicals in it.

"I've really enjoyed dressing up because I really feel like I'm part of it."

Ben Sarbutt, 8, was a builder with cement on a board, he said: "I made the cement myself and I was really excited about dressing up today.

"There have been lots of problems today with the design, but it is working out now."

The boss of the builders, dressed in a very smart suit, was 11-year-old Samuel Grant.

"I have enjoyed bossing everyone about," he said.

"There is a lot of hard work involved directing everyone what to do.

"I have been helping the builders who are creating the sports hall, which has got a gym in it."

AFTER years of building up businesses online, three friends are joining forces to set up shop.

Decadence – a haven of sweet smelling, sparkling and stylish trinkets – will open in Carr Lane, Grimsby, on Saturday, April 6.

It will sell fashion jewellery, Yankee candles and accessories and shabby chic furniture, provided by Helen Hudson, 35, Debra Maidens, 46 and Sarah Sanderson, 38.

Each have operated their own successful businesses on the internet and are now looking forward to having four walls they can call their own.

Helen set up her jewellery business Glitzy Bitz from her Waltham home after having two sons.

She said: "We are all dying to get in there. April can't come soon enough! We just want to get going now."

Debra, also of Waltham, will rent the shop next to Tip Top Toe salon and Sarah and Helen will pay for their floor space.

Debra also works full time as a childminding network co-ordinator and parental engagement worker for North East Lincolnshire Council.

She said: "Our shop will arouse all the senses, we will have fabulous smells, shiny sparkling jewellery and lovely furniture all in one room.

"We want people to come in and be dazzled."

New stock will be bought in every week and the online versions of the businesses will continue.

Sarah, of Scartho, a mum to two sons aged three and ten months, added: "We started our businesses to get a bit of normality after having children.

"It is great being our own bosses, having no one to answer to and meeting new people.

"We make a good team."