Youngsters have been brushing up on their artistic skills - and giving back to the community as well.

Art company Doodle Designs held a workshop for ten young people at Edmonton Green Shopping Centre over the summer.

When Christina Kalinowski, owner of Doodle Designs, approached the shopping centre about the space, she was told by manager Rebecca Bird that the hire fee could go to a charity rather than the centre.

It was agreed to support BASE (Build Achieve Support Empower); an Edmonton-based not-for-profit organisation, that started in September 2019 supporting five families locally.

The organisation aims to reduce child poverty, gang activity and social isolation within the community and supplies food to 400 families weekly from its own allotment and various other sources.

Ms Kalinowski said: "When Rebecca kindly told us to donate the room hire fee to a charity of our choice, I discussed this with the class and it was apparent that they all wanted to support their peers within Edmonton.

"Most of the participants were from outside of Edmonton so having been given a tour and brainstorming ideas, community was something that they all felt very strongly about.

"They came across BASE and are so happy that they’ve been able to help in some way. I couldn’t be happier to support Candice McDonald and her team. It is all about giving back to our community in some shape or form."

Ms McDonald, chief executive and founder of BASE, said: "We are truly grateful to all involved for their generosity. Being fully self-funded means that this is an absolute God send for us.

"We have been working had for the past six months to create a music studio for some of the young people we support and this money has totally come at the right time for us."