A team of Bradford's trainee youth workers are jetting off to Jamaica tomorrow to develop their skills and teach youngsters about sports and art.

The six trainees fly from Heathrow to Kingston and will spend 17 days in Old Harbour as part of a two-year programme run by Bradford Youth Development Partnership (BYDP).

The workers, who are aged between 20 and 50, graduate in December with a Foundation Certificate in Combined Studies from the University of Bradford.

Salima Hafejee, director of the BYDP, said: "The trip is part of their two-year experiential learning programme.

"The experience of working in a different environment, culture and host country widens their experience, and it is particularly useful for young people from Bradford who usually go to European or Asian countries for a holiday.

"In the future, whatever organisation they work for, they will be able to replicate international volunteer work with the young people of Bradford."

Development worker Saleh Ahmed, 22, will be leading the team.

Mr Ahmed, who was on the course two years ago before joining BYDP as qualified youth worker, said: "The traineeship is about taking young people who have a passion for community youth work and giving them the experience to help others.

"I have been able to get on personally and professionally develop myself as a result of the scheme.

"I have seen two groups of people go through the programme and it has given me immense satisfaction to see them develop their skills."

In Jamaica, the trainee youth workers will work with pupils at Marley Mount Primary School and Spring Gardens Secondary School to deliver sports and arts programmes.

They will introduce youngsters to games, such as hopscotch, and teach them about the importance of healthy living, eating properly and exercise.

The arts classes will be based around Easter, citizenship and culture.

Trainee Imran Khan, 21, of Darwin Street, Canterbury, said the scheme had given him a taste of university life.

He added: "I am looking forward to working with the young people and seeing how different their lives are.

"I think people over here take a lot of things for granted and I think the experience will really open my eyes."

Trainee Emma Mazek, 28, of Daisy Street, Great Horton, worked at Asda before joining the scheme. She said: "It is a fantastic opportunity.

"There have been great benefits to this course even though I have had to take a pay cut.

"Being able to support younger people and the possibility of helping them feels brilliant and the knowledge that I have gained is always going to help me connect with them."

The trip has been part funded by the BYDP, with the trainee workers raising the remaining funds through various activities including a fun day at Newby Primary School in West Bowling.