At first glance, Madilyn Cuthbert might seem just another example of Scotland�s disaffected youth � a bored teenager with a spray can.

At first glance, Madilyn Cuthbert might seem just another example of Scotland's disaffected youth - a bored teenager with a spray can.

Yet rather than loitering around a street corner, the 14-year-old from Prestwick and 26 teenage friends spend their free time using hundreds of aerosol cans to cover their school courtyard with graffiti art.

The volunteers from Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr are taking part in a community art project to improve their school garden by creating a colourful outdoor classroom.

While some of Scotland's teenagers collect Asbos, these young people are busy collecting volunteering awards.

The graffiti artists in Ayr are not alone. A new report reveals a far more positive picture of young people's involvement in their communities than is sometimes assumed.

The Scottish Government study into children's participation levels in culture and sport revealed that more and more young people are participating in culture and arts outside of school, as well as volunteering and physical activity.

Indeed up to one third of 11 to15-year-olds sacrifice their free time to participate in volunteer schemes. Of those who are not yet involved, 72% expressed an interest in volunteering, motivated by the opportunity to see the positive impact on their lives and to gain respect and satisfaction through their achievements.

Madilyn and her classmates gave up an hour of their free time every week for three months to create the graffiti wall as part of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. "I learned how to use a spray can for something other than crime," said Madilyn. "Volunteering my free time to do something good has taught me a lot. We used volunteering to turn the bad image teenagers have on its head. We are proving that not all teenagers are troublemakers with nothing better to do with our time than cause problems."

Six schools across South Ayrshire, Highland and East Lothian have been involved in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Curriculum for Excellence pilot project during the past academic year. Groups of over 280 young people have been positively contributing to improve their schools and wider community through projects in child care, sports coaching, community arts and conservation projects.

Victoria McRae, Development officer at East Dunbartonshire Volunteer Centre, said getting young people involved in volunteering at a young age is key to the survival of many organisations. "It's very positive and encouraging that young people are taking part in volunteering," she said. If you get people to start volunteering at a young age that ethos carries on through life. They see the benefits and value of doing something positive in their community and it gives them a sense of belonging and value."

According to the study, among those who have volunteered, young people are most likely to have helped with sports activities by raising money, organising events, coaching and score-keeping. Of those living in rural areas, 42% give up their free time to get involved, compared to 28% of urban dwellers.

Lynsey Gillies, 15, from Alloway, took part in a children's service's after-school care club by looking after special needs children.

"I gave up two hours of my free time every week," she said. " I supervised primary school kids and it helped me learn to be responsible.

"It wasn't always easy but I realised the value of bring involved in volunteer projects. It also helped me to meet new people from different backgrounds."

Community-based initiatives are encouraging young people to put their free time to good use and for 13-year-old Michael O'Donavan from Shawlands, volunteering is a way of life rather than a chore. "I've been volunteering at Clydesdale hockey club since I was 10," he said. "I wanted to pay something back the clubs so I do warm-ups and drills with five to eight-year-olds for about one hour a week. Hopefully it will help me get my coaching badges when I am older but for now it gives me some confidence and it's fun."

Despite a tendency to discard the value of youth participation outside the classroom, the statistics in the report indicate a willingness to make use of free time and a desire to "get involved".

Outside of school, 96% of young people say they have participated in at least one cultural activity in the last 12 months, with 45% visiting a museum or gallery.

Around half of young people have visited a library, with most doing so to borrow or return books or use computers, and more than half of young people say they have been to a historical or archaeological site in their own time.

As Scotland attempts to move away from its image of ill health, it seems 96% of young people participate in one type of sporting activity outside of school, with around one in seven young people doing four or more activities at least once a week.

James Selby, senior sports development officer at Culture and Sport Glasgow, said the findings were encouraging.

"Our aim is to find ways to get young people involved," he said. "There are increasing numbers of young people participating in sport through clubs and organisations, and by encouraging them to take sport forward we can improve their quality of life. More and more young people are eager to get active by getting involved, and we need to commend that."

However, the report revealed a number of disparities between young people living in the least deprived areas compared to those from poorer backgrounds. Young people living in a household where no parents work are significantly less likely to visit museums or galleries (44%), than those with both parents working (57%). Almost half of young people living in the least deprived areas of Scotland have played a musical instrument or written or recorded music on a weekly basis, compared to 17% of their peers from poorer backgrounds.

The report's recommendations highlight the need to address this discrepancy to make sure that young people from deprived backgrounds do not miss out on opportunities. With the emphasis firmly on making an effort to encourage young people to participate wherever possible, the findings are hoped to be a starting point for future change.

As teenagers continue to make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Madilyn and the graffiti artists are continuing their assault on the youth stereotype. "Not all young people are the same," she said. "There are some kids out there who can make a difference, all they need is to be given the chance."

Activity time,br>

• 96% of young people say they have participated in one cultural activity in the past 12 months.
  
• 45% have been to a museum or gallery.
  
• 89% have attended at least one cultural event.
  
• Girls tend to go to a greater number of cultural events than boys, with 42% of girls having been to four or more events compared to 27% of boys.
  
• Young people living in a household where no parents work are less likely to visit museums or galleries (44%), than those with both parents working (57%).
  
• 72% of young people who have visited a historical site in the past year have done so with family or friends.
  
• 51% have visited a library in the last 12 months, with girls more likely than boys to have done so (55% vs 47%).
  
• 96% of young people participate in one type of sporting activity outside of school.
  
• 39% of young people read for pleasure.
  
• 16% of young people in deprived areas read for pleasure, compared to 40% in less deprived areas.
  
• 48% of young people have participated in crafts such as pottery, knitting and sewing.
  
• Football is the most popular form of out-of-school physical activity, with 29% participating.
  
• 27% of young people are a member of sports clubs outside of school.
  
• Boys spend 7 hours a week participating in physical activity, compared to 4 hours for girls.
  
• 32% of young people have given up their free time to volunteer. 12 year-old (40%) and 14 year-old girls (38%) are more likely to have done so.