A skate park, fishing project and drama group are amongst the youth groups short listed to receive funding through City of York Council's £50,000 Young People's Fund this year.

15 groups have been short listed to receive part of the £50,000 grant from a total of 31 entries. Young people are invited to apply for a maximum grant of £5,000 for projects which will promote personal and social development and provide long lasting benefits to young people in York.

The shortlist is drawn up by a panel of eight youngsters, who attend training sessions to help them plan, design and distribute application forms to youth groups. The panel then shortlist and recommend which groups should be offered a share of the fund.

One of the short listed applications has come from the Final Curtain Drama Group. The group would like funding to produce a video to increase drug awareness.

Sally McCalveen, Final Curtain Drama Group, said: "The drama group has been working on a piece about young people's attitudes to drugs and drug awareness.

"This funding would enable us to develop a video to inform people working in drug awareness training about young people's views."

Other shortlisted projects include the Fishy Business Project and B & K Skaters. Fishy Business is looking to purchase fishing equipment and books to enable young people to take a certified angling qualification. B & K Skaters have applied for funding to purchase equipment for the skate park in Rowntree Park.

Michael (12) is involved in the Fishy Business Project. He said: "Fishing is good - its relaxing and you can escape from problems at home. When I caught a fish I felt really proud." Councillor Alan Jones, the council's executive member for leisure and heritage, said: "There have been some really fantastic entries this year. The young people put a lot of time and effort into preparing the submissions and choosing which groups should receive funding. Their involvement at every stage of the process ensures that the projects really will be a winner with the city's youngsters." From this year, allocations will be awarded on a biannual basis to allow both the young people's panel and the applicants sufficient time to prepare submisssions and to shortlist proposals. Members of the panel are also required to assess the successs of the project, and the funding allocation, once it is up and running.

The remaining funding will be used to support and develop the council's other youth services.

The awards will be presented at a presentation evening at the Barbican on Friday, March 28, 2003.