The fine art of fund-raising in hard times helps improve the lives of young people

But 30 per cent of all proceeds from the Art for Youth North event at Queen Mary's near Thirsk next week go to UK Youth which is celebrating its centenary this year.

"It is about artists of all ages joining together to raise money for charity," explains Torty Hunt from Art for Youth North.

"The charity is using art to raise significant funds. In the North alone we've raised almost 100,000 over five events and the London exhibition, the first to be launched, has raised considerably more."

Art for Youth is a series of art exhibitions held around the country to raise funds and awareness for UK Youth. It is the sixth year that the event has been held in Yorkshire after it was started initially in London more than 20 years ago

UK Youth is the leading youth work charity in the UK supporting over 750,000 young people, 40,000 volunteers and part-time youth workers and 7,000 youth clubs, youth groups and projects.

UK Youth helps young people to raise their aspirations, realise their potential and have their achievements recognised through a non-formal curriculum approach to learning and development

North Yorkshire Youth is a member of UK Youth and helps supports thousands of young people across the county in 73 rural and urban youth clubs and also at its Carlton Lodge Residential Outdoor Centre near Thirsk.

Deputy chief executive David Sharp says: "We work with a wide range of young people aged 13 to 19. We give support to youth clubs, mostly in rural areas where there is very little else for

the children to do."

At Carlton Lodge children come from across the country to experience the outdoors and learn important social and communication skills.

"We had had some children from deprived areas of Wakefield and Hull who have never seen a cow.

"You cannot overestimate the importance of the outdoor centre to children like this. The benefit is immeasurable. It gives them much-needed confidence and gives them the opportunity to do something they may never have got to do otherwise.

"I recently heard one girl say it was the best day of her life; what more can you say."

This year Art for Youth North will also be supporting one of UK Youth's YouthAchievement Foundations, based in the Tees Valley, to target students who are excluded or at risk of exclusion. The Foundation operates in a refurbished building and has learning resources, especially in relation to providing vocational experiences in: vehicle maintenance, construction and hair and beauty.

Art for Youth North is on Thursday October 21– Saturday October 23 at Queen Mary's School, Topcliffe. Prices for works of art range from 30 to 2,000.

Mystery Pictures will also be on sale. These are mounted, postcard-sized artworks priced at 35 each but the buyer will only know who the artist is after the picture has been bought.

All proceeds from the Mystery Pictures go to the charity.

n Tickets for the Private View being held from 6.30pm – 9.30pm on Thursday, are 10 in advance and 12 at the door. The exhibition will be open to the general public from 10am – 4.30pm on Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23. More information can be found at www.artfor youthnorth.co.uk.