TEENAGERS are being trained as inspectors to check that services are young person-friendly in Dorset.

Thirty youngsters aged 13 to 19 are being chosen for the pilot scheme as part of a national programme called Youth 4 U.

The aim is that they will inspect services and help change them for the better.

Action for Children has been chosen to recruit, train and support the 30-strong team.

Support worker Keith Harrison will manage the project with support from Dorset County Council business and administration apprentice Sally Way.

Sally said: “We are planning to inspect a range of different services that are provided for young people such as advice and information projects, health services, libraries and leisure centres.

“This is a great opportunity for young people to investigate the quality of local services and present their views.

“We have a brilliant group of young people with lots of motivation and interesting ideas.”

Dorset is one of 32 councils to have been awarded funding for a pilot project.

The first group of teens are planning their first inspections.

The way inspections are carried out will vary but will include: l Mystery shopping l Question and answer panels l Research and interviews.

The young inspectors will be able to gain accreditation linked to their inspections and be paid for each inspection.

Council cabinet member for children’s services Toni Coombs said: “We aim to put children and young people at the heart of all we do and, by training young people to be inspectors, we can make sure they are satisfied with the quality of local services.”

Once an inspection has been completed, young inspectors will report back to the services with an expectation that changes are made wherever possible.

Simon Fraiz-Brown, who is the council’s strategic participation manager, said: “The young inspectors programme is really exciting.

“It allows young people to have a real say.

“In the long-term we would like to see children and young people increasingly able to influence the decisions that affect them, as enshrined in the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“This would mean all services working closely with children and young people.”