Celebrating teen spirit: falklands veteran's youth charity

Mr Weston, who is having a "mad" year helping to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict, said it was "always impressive to see young people come through and achieve".
He founded Weston Spirit, which has 11 centres across the UK working with 13 to 25-year-olds, in 1988 because of his own experience growing up.
"I made a lot of choices out of desperation," explained Mr Weston, who said getting into trouble at the age of 15 prompted him to change his life's path.
"We're trying to give youngsters more of an opportunity to make informed choices rather than making a choice out of feeling lost or they have to do something else."
Youth worker Maggie Nyabango said the branch, which has helped more than 15,000 young people since it opened in 1997, encouraged young people to step out of their comfort zone and promoted teamwork, confidence and motivation.
Shakira Smith, 15, of Hands Walk, Canning Town, received help with her school work and was encouraged to sing.
"Weston Spirit has helped my confidence levels," she said.
"I didn't really know so many people even though they've lived in my area and I've made really good friends with some of the people that are here."
Mr Weston said young people were "our only tomorrow" and not giving them the opportunity to make the right choices could lead negative influences, such as drugs, crime and the "misery" of gang life, to take over.
"There has to be another way and perhaps our way is it, perhaps it isn't," he said.
"It needs to be given more of a look at by officials because a lot of other policies have failed.
"We are not here to judge the youngsters. We are here to inspire them to do something different." newsdesk@wharf.co.uk
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