UNEMPLOYEDyoungsters found themselves at the heart of a Willesden project thataims to bring positive change to the entire community.

A group of jobseekers in Brent wererecruited from the Job Centre to take part in a ten-week painting anddecorating course with the College of North West London, Wembley.

Through the course they ended up taking part in the New Windows on Willesden Green scheme,by helping to renovate empty shops in Willesden High Road for use bystart-up businesses and community groups.

Collegeprincipal Vicki Fagg said she was incredibly proud of theirinvolvement in the project, commenting on how it allowed the studentsto engage directly with the community in such a positive way.

Studentswere trained in a skill, then took part in the second phase of the NewWindows project, which started last October and finishes this month.

Phase one saw a series of window animations prepared and installed as a countdown to Christmas.

The projects second phase focuses on renovating empty shops to attract new tenants to move in for three months.

Theshops will be available for start-up businesses, community groups, andindividual projects to try out ideas and eventually transform WillesdenHigh Road.