Youngsters are being the chance to show their caring side thanks to a scheme which encourages them to help others.

The Millennium Volunteers scheme is helping to disprove stereotypes of the younger generation as bored and selfish youths hooked on drugs and video games.

Sean Cox is just one of a number of youngsters who is finding great personal reward from taking part in the scheme.

As a wheelchair user himself, Sean was well placed to offer advice on disability issues.

But his commitment to the cause went beyond the call of duty.

As part of the Brighton and Hove Millennium Volunteers scheme, he has offered his time to others since his teens, whether working at the advice centre or teaching children literacy and numeracy at youth groups.

He has now been rewarded for his service, which amounts to more than 200 hours of his time, with the first prize for South-East volunteer of the year.

The Government-run scheme aims to encourage young people to take a break from their video games and CDs and get involved in the community.

Sean, of Bannings Vale, Saltdean, who is now 25, said: "There is unfair stereotyping of young people.

"Even though there are lots of young people who are doing good, the media tends to focus on negative aspects rather than the positive."

The Millennium Volunteers initiative is funded by the Department for Education and Skills and works with 16 to 24-year-olds, getting them involved in local volunteering.

Corinna Edwards-Colledge is the co-ordinator of the Brighton and Hove branch.

She said: "We've been running the scheme in Brighton and Hove for three years and we've almost always over-recruited.

"There is definitely the interest there, it's just that young people don't always know how to go about volunteering.

"It's often older people who go into it but the energy and creativity young people bring in is really important."

Corinna, 31, of Park Crescent Place, Brighton, thinks youngsters can be put under a lot of pressure to conform to a media stereotype.

She said: "It is a difficult world for young people today, they have to grow up so fast.

"Especially in Brighton, where there are lots of people living in poverty.

"There are lots of demands placed on their time and when they get into trouble it is usually a cry for help.

"If they can channel their energy into something positive, it benefits everyone.

"They have a really important role to play."

Sean said such projects could help both volunteers and those in need of help.

He said: "I've gained so much confidence from this.

"It's really helped me in terms of what I want to do and where I want to go. I've learnt a lot from helping others."

Stuart Johnson, who co-ordinates Brighton and Hove Positive Futures, a sports project run with the council which enlists the help of young people from East Brighton, agreed it works both ways.

He said the importance of the scheme, which trains young people as sport coaches, lies in giving youngsters responsibility.

He said: "Our volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds.

"They may have been youth offenders but it is equally possible they are youngsters from the local estates who want to gain coaching experience.

"These people are trained so they can help deliver sporting programmes, such as football or skateboarding, to ten to 16-year-olds.

"The value for them is the responsibility they are given, which raises their confidence and self-esteem by rising to the challenge.

"We have seen some of the greatest changes in young people's lives come when they have the opportunity to pass on their talents."

Stuart added the scheme had changed perceptions of young people and what they can achieve.

He said: "For the community, it shows young people can be responsible and a benefit to others.

"It also proves without doubt that young people do care about their community and have an interest in making it a better place to live."

On the Whitehawk estate in Brighton, the Crew Club organises social events for young people and is aiming to bridge the gap between young and old.

Co-ordinator Lorraine Town said young people could be misunderstood.

She said: "It is not true that old people on the estate are afraid to go out because they are scared of the kids like some would have us believe.

"The young people have planned events, such as a Christmas party for old people, off their own bat and really enjoy listening to their stories.

"The two have more in common than middle-aged people sometimes think.

"If you treat the kids with respect you get that respect back."