A music project based at Skipton Library has won a prestigious national award.

Skipton Rewind Club, which encourages teenagers to develop their songwriting skills, was named best initiative of the year by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

A trophy and cheque for £4,000 was presented to members of Skipton Rewind and representatives of North Yorkshire County Council at a special ceremony last week at the House of Commons.

Rewind members also performed a song especially written for the event attended by culture secretary Ed Vaizey and Skipton MP Julian Smith.

Councillor Chris Metcalfe, executive member for library and information services, said it was a fantastic achievement for Skipton Rewind Club and for the library, youth service, and music service staff.

“As well as justifying the award’s philosophy that libraries change lives, it also demonstrates that the council’s library service remains committed to providing the very best and most inspirational resource for the people of the county, despite the difficult decisions that we, in common with many other local authorities around the country, have been forced to make as a result of the austere economic environment,” he said.

Skipton Rewind was launched as a ten week course two years ago and proved so popular, it is still running.

It offers teenagers the chance to meet library staff, a youth worker and a professional musician to develop their songwriting skills. It also works to encourage them to continue engaging with the library, even after moving onto secondary school.

The project is a partnership between the council’s library service, the youth service and North Yorkshire Youth Music Action Zone.

Coun Metcalfe added: “The club helps provide the youngsters not only with a safe space but confidence, friendship and the kind of transferable skills that come from planning and hosting their own events.”

Linda Constable, chairman of judges, said: “In the wake of last year’s riots, today’s teenagers have received much negative press.

“Here we had an inspired project with dedicated library staff working with some amazingly bright, engaged and enthusiastic youngsters to learn vital life skills while doing something that they love.”

She added it showed what teenagers could do when they were encouraged and not criticised.

“It also highlights the continued importance of committed and industrious librarians who are often unsung heroes in our communities.”