Teen talent transforms poorly park

A group of teenagers have helped transform a city park as part of a national drive to curb antisocial behaviour and get young people into employment.

Fourteen 16 to 18-year-olds worked for six weeks to bring King George V Park to its previous award-winning glory with a number of improvements.

The youngsters, all of them unemployed, were involved in Action for Children’s Inspiring Scotland Challenge.

The project encourages participation in training and development, and helping to regenerate community areas.

Emma Murray, 16, from the Southhouse area of Liberton – the only girl in the group – said the experience would help her achieve her goal of becoming a painter and decorator.

She said: “The whole point of Challenge is to get a challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed being here and I’m very proud of our work because it looks brilliant.

“It’s given me more experience – I’ll be able to go into a job and say, ‘I was on Challenge, I worked in a team, I was able to lead that team also’.”

The park was chosen because local police officers said the lack of facilities was causing antisocial behaviour.