TEENAGERS drew inspiration from double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes as part of a summer course that boosted their self-confidence and organisational skills.

Fifteen 16-year-old are five weeks into a seven week National Citizenship Service during which they receive mentoring and arrange fundraising activities for their chosen good causes of Centrepoint, the homelessness charity, and Harrow Churches Housing Association.

Dame Kelly, whose Dame Kelly Legacy Trust is running the scheme with Harrow Council and volunteering organisation 'v', dropped by Brigade Hall in Brigade Close, South Harrow, on Wednesday (Aug 17) to discuss her backgrounds and goals, and to extol the benefits of positive thinking.

The 41-year-old role model, who won the 800m and 1,500m races at the 2004 Athens Games, told them: "I started from nowhere and made it big.

"I lived with my mother and didn't know my father, and we didn't have a lot of money. I made money from washing cars and cleaning windows."

The 2004 BBC Sports Personality of the Year urged the group: "Don't be afraid to change your plans or give things a go, or even rejection. Never stop learning."

The course - one of 71 Goverment-funded pilot schemes - started on July 27 with an induction and a week-long residential stay in Southampton where the teenagers bonded through team-building activities.

It was the first of four times they met partially-sighted runner Tim Prendergast, who is an athlete mentor for Dame Kelly's trust and explained how perseverance, tenacity and belief helped him to victory in the 800m at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games for his native New Zealand.

Dame Kelly said: "It's great to come and see the young people as part of their personal development programme.

"They're all preparing for one of their community events, which is bringing awareness of homelessness. It's helped them understand social issues and they want to do something about it.

"It provides confidence building and setting aims and goals for the future and improving their communication skills - meeting new people for the first time, planning and preparation.

"At 16, they're all making important life choices. This is an opportunity to learn about themselves and about how to make a difference in their lives by making the right decisions rather than the wrong ones.

"The young people are the best advocates for the scheme. They've already seen a big difference over a short time.

"They get a really big sense of achievement if they stick to the project."

Nower Hill High School pupil Haniya Rizvi, 16, said: "The big thing is that we've all gelled together.

"We've all come here for our own reasons. Some of us want to gain confidence, others to do something for the summer, but we've all done something for the homeless.

"We met homeless people on Monday through Centrepoint and it's become a more personal challenge. Rather than feeling obliged to do it, we WANT to do it now.

"Tim was great and Dame Kelly was inspirational and motivational. It wasn't like speaking to a celebrity."

Saad Deyoub, 16, of Ladysmith Road, Wealdstone, and a former Hatch End High School pupil, said: "Before the programme, I was just a guy on the streets, fighting, getting kicked out of schools.

"I was all negative with no positive inside of me. The staff who introduced this programme to me have opened doors - if it wasn't for them I'd probably still be on the streets.

"I've learnt there is so much in this world that you can do."

Hours after saying goodbye to Dame Kelly and Tim on Wednesday, the teenagers slept outdoors in front of Harrow Civic Centre in Station Road to raise funds to eradicate, and heighten awareness of, homelessness.

This was followed by a barbecue on Friday at a Harrow Churches Housing Association property in Pinner and a planned fun day later this month, and all will attend a graduation ceremony at the end of the scheme.?