OLYMPIC gold medallist Darren Campbell has presented a special award to young people from North Yorkshire for their inspiring film about homelessness.

Inspired Youth, a York-based non-profit community organisation, was commissioned by Harrogate Borough Council to create a creative art and media campaign to raise awareness of youth homelessness.

The Behind No Doors project involved young people exploring and sharing their own real life experiences of homelessness.

They made posters and used different art forms, including graffiti art, digital photography, design, performance arts and drama, before the project culminated with a 22-minute film, which will be used as an educational resource to be shown at schools and colleges across the district and later the county.

Kevin Curran and Chris James, the founders and directors of Inspired Youth, said various leading people, including Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis and the head of housing at Harrogate council, were interviewed for the film.

Now the film’s achievements have been recognised at a National Inspiration awards ceremony held at Westminster by Kids Count, a think-tank aiming to find practical solutions to issues affecting children and young people.

A spokesman said: “By creating the Kids Count Inspiration Awards, we wish to recognise those individuals and organisations that have quite literally inspired young people in their communities.

“They have been addressing issues that affect their lives by creating initiatives that are grounded in practicality and realism and make a positive difference, whilst giving a voice to young people to determine and influence their own futures.”

The Behind No doors crew received the Kids Count Inspiration Award for Best Contribution to Youth Issues.

Assisting athlete Darren in presenting the awards was Tony Hadley, of Spandau Ballet, both of whom support Kids Count, with the event supported by Mike Penning MP, Theresa May MP, patron Baroness Miller and several other MPs.

Kevin said Darren spoke of his own experiences in dealing with adversity in growing up in Moss Side, Manchester.