A WITNEY arts programme is helping young people to turn their lives around.

Young unemployed people aged 16-25 are being given the chance to develop their skills and creativity through a three month long Multi Arts Project (MAP).

The courses are being run at the Witney Youth and Community Centre, in Witan Way.

Students have been making video animations, doing painting, writing, poetry, visual and performing arts and making models, to boost their confidence and self esteem.

Nicola Armitage, a film maker and MAP project worker, said: "It is about confidence building developing their communication and social skills through individual work and working together in groups.

"The course gets them motivated and involved and helps them get into work. A lot of them have had a pretty hard time, it's about encouraging and motivating them.

"We have students from a range of backgrounds, some have dropped out from college, some people have learning difficulties, others have mental health problems.

"At the moment we have spaces for more young people please do get in touch if you would to join."

Jamie Strover, 18, said he would be simply sitting around at home doing nothing if he was not involved with the project. When asked what he has got out of doing art he said: "I have got happiness."

"It's been quite fun. It's been cool. I am making a car for an animation. If I wasn't doing this I would just be lazing around at home. I was hurt in an accident last November and the doctor told me I shouldn't work for a year, one side of me has been affected."

MAP is part of the Oxfordshire County Council Youth Support Services and is partly funded by the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council.

Artists are also working with school pupils from ten schools in the county to help improve their concentration and how they engage with their work.