School Wardens Go Green
Children from Holy Cross and Thatto Heath Primary school's gave a thumbs up to greener living after completing a Junior Community Warden scheme provided by re:new project, with Helena Homes and St Helens Council.
The year five youngsters proudly became fully fledged Junior Wardens for their local areas after taking part in the seven week course which encouraged them to help look after their local environment, and work with re:new staff and environmental wardens to find ways to improve the areas in which they work and play.
Running the scheme for the first time, the re:new project teamed up with the police and fire services, park rangers, Helena anti nuisance team and recycling groups to provide fun learning activities and workshops to encourage youngsters to think about how issues such as vandalism, anti social behaviour and fly tipping affect the quality of their surroundings, and what they can do to help make a difference.
Rachel Bennett, Neighbourhood Co-ordinator for re:new Thatto Heath said:
"The Junior Warden scheme has been a great success. As it was the first time we had run the project, we were interested to see what kind of response it would receive, and feedback from the children was amazing.
"They particularly enjoyed carrying out classroom surveys on litter and recycling, and creating environmental posters and adverts for the end of project competition.
"The scheme provided us with perfect opportunity to engage with the children and raise awareness of the environmental issues in their local areas. By identifying these issues and the affect they have on their community, we are confident the children will now play an active role in finding ways to sustain greener environments, and have greater pride and respect for where they live"
The youngsters celebrated their new junior warden roles with a presentation at their school, and were each awarded with a certificate to mark the occasion. Winners of the environmental poster competition were also announced, and received congratulations and a £10 gift voucher from members of the re:new and St Helens Council teams.
After completing the scheme, pupils from Holy Cross primary school put their new skills into action and enjoyed getting their hands dirty in a local clean up event, taking part in litter picking, weeding, and bedding roses and shrubs in planting areas. The children have since received their own designated planting area to take care of and maintain.
07 June 2010
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