Pixie Lott is backing David Cameron’s calls for all 16-year-olds to do National Citizen Service – to encourage our teens.

The 20-year-old singer will be a judge for October’s BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards, which will honour inspirational youths.

Here Pixie, from Essex, tells why it is so important to remember and support all the nation’s good young people.

The riots in Britain last week were just awful.

I couldn’t believe how quickly the violence spread.

It was crazy. Young people were rioting in the streets and causing chaos.

Then everyone seemed to jump on the bandwagon and started looting for free stuff.

They were grabbing bottles of water – I mean, why would you do that? I just didn’t understand what they were trying to achieve.

I really do hope what goes around comes around and they get punished for what they have done.

But more needs to be done with young people to show them there is another way and to focus on the good that the majority of youngsters are doing, which Radio 1′s Teen Awards are trying to do.

I think the National Citizen Service that David Cameron is suggesting for after GCSEs is a good idea – but it has to be done properly.

Young people need to be doing something they enjoy, something positive which encourages them and gives them a different perspective.

Teenagers should know that if they put their mind to it they can achieve anything – the world is their oyster.

It is tough at the moment. A lot of my friends from back home are struggling to get jobs and a lot of youngsters feel let down by the police and feel they have nowhere to turn to.

But young people shouldn’t all be tarred with the same brush. The National Citizen Service shouldn’t be a chore or seen as something negative and they shouldn’t be given jobs nobody else wants to do.

It should be something which encourages teens’ passion and gives them a focus. Whether that is performing or computers or something else. Everyone is passionate about something.

I know I’ve been lucky because I loved singing and dancing and my mum and dad could afford to send me to classes.

A lot of families on council estates don’t have that chance to go to private lessons.

And if there are no clubs for them to go to how will they ever think they can achieve their dream?

I remember when my parents would take me to dancing classes we would drive past people from school hanging around on the street corners. I had a focus so I didn’t hang around in gangs.

This scheme may help by giving youngsters a focus.

If you have a passion, go for it. You can achieve anything. That is the message of the Radio 1 Teen Awards.

I was so moved by stories of some truly outstanding young people at last year’s awards and I’m expecting to hear even more this year now I am a judge.

One guy had recovered from 90 per cent burns and now works with the fire brigade. Another had his legs amputated after contracting meningitis when he was seven, but now coaches sports and is an ambassador for the Meningitis Trust.

There are amazing young people doing positive things in their communities, who need encouragement.

Teens are not all bad and people need to realise that.

The BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards are at Wembley Arena on October 9. Make a nomination at bbc.co.uk/radio1/teenawards.