YOUNG people from the 'Smugglers' group taking part in the National Citizen Service project have brought some of their social action projects to Cirencester.

The Smugglers visited Deb Richardson of Three Sheep Wools to learn the basics of knitting, allowing them to create their own poppies to sell for the Royal British Legion and raised a total of £318 for the charity with a collection bucket on the Thursday, July 24.

Deb praised their enthusiasm to learn and commended them for their efforts.

She said: “They all sat on the hottest day of the year and just knitted. It was brilliant.”

“What good kids. It gives you renewed hopes in the kids of today. It sounds cheesy but it’s true.”

The group’s leaders Kian Enderby and Forbes Allen also spoke highly of the effort that had been put in over the last few weeks and what the students had managed to achieve.

Kian said: “I can’t praise them enough. Some of them were afraid of water and they did watersports. Some of them were afraid of heights and they did rock climbing.”

“It’s a really delightful process to be a part of.”

Forbes Allen helped out with the project as an intern last year and has returned from university this year to lend a hand again.

Speaking about this year’s group he said: “This year they just stepped up their game even more. It’s amazing.”

NCS Coordinator for Cirencester College Jo Crook was also delighted with their work and described the group as amazing.

She extended her thanks to all the team leaders: Malcolm Sharp; Rebecca Steels; Yasmin Simpson; Joe Sampson and Nathan Hoy, saying that the project could not have happened without them.

Paying tribute to those who helped with the students’ charity work she said: “The residents and the shops around Cirencester have been wonderful and so generous with their donations. I can’t thank them enough.”

Speaking about the student s themselves she added: “They are some of the nicest teenagers I’ve ever worked with.”