TEENAGERS wanting to do something worthwhile in their summer holidays are being encouraged to get involved in a South Croydon scheme.

Whitgift Special Needs Activity Project (Whitgift SNAP) runs holiday play schemes for disabled children and young people from Croydon between the ages of five and 25 at Whitgift School.

Each disabled participant is paired with a volunteer and this summer the charity is offering places to around 265 disabled youngsters.

Jane Bird, the charity's project coordinator, said: "At the end of last year my colleague Angela Hutchings and I held assemblies in local schools to recruit the volunteers.

"We have been absolutely amazed at the huge number of applications we received.

"Already over 550 teenagers from the local area have applied to give up a week of their school summer holidays to volunteer on the project."

All volunteers are interviewed and have to undertake a full day's training before the charity chooses who to take on.

The project's first training day is on June 27, which will be followed by two further training days on July 3 and July 10.

Despite the large number of potential recruits there is still time to volunteer, either by calling 020 8633 9946 or by visiting www.whitgiftsnap.org.uk