A NEW group designed to show not all young people are bad was launched at the weekend.

Project Change was formed after around 60 young people attended a meeting in the Town Hall on Saturday organised by Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell in response to the August riots.

Mr Barwell will now be working with the group to find ways in which young people can help the community and dispel a tarnished image which they claim arose out of the violence and looting.

Mr Barwell said: "I was contacted by young people after the riots who were upset by media reports about feral teenagers being behind the riots.

"They were concerned that all young people were being demonised and wanted to show that any who were involved were just a tiny minority."

The meeting has thrown up a number of ideas of the Big Society in action which the MP will now help the young people, who range from GCSE pupils to university students, to implement.

Initial suggestions include helping with the recovery of the West Croydon to Broad Green stretch of London Road by getting involved in tidying-up operations such as litter picks and brightening up the area with artwork on hoardings.

The young people are also keen to show their support for Croydon's elderly population by offering befriending schemes or support by doing shopping or gardening.

And they want to organise a "summer camp" type of event to provide activities for 12 to 14-year-olds to keep them off the streets.

Mr Barwell said there were a number of obstacles to overcome, such as clearing the group's supporters to work the with the elderly and youngsters, before Project Change could start work.

But he believed the enthusiasm should not be wasted.

Mr Barwell said: "I think if older people had been at Saturday's meeting they would have been impressed.

"Those young people who were there were really passionate about what they wanted to do and they had some great ideas. They want to help Croydon change for the better."

The MP added he would now be looking at the ideas in more detail and finding ways of encouraging adults to support the project.