Last updated at 11:54, Friday, 11 September 2009

Take to the streets of South Whitehaven

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South Whitehaven Youth Partnership, South Whitehaven Neighbourhood Management and the Neighbourhood Wardens are running a Pilot Junior Warden Scheme, which includes a packed programme of activities to be run over the 6 weeks of the summer holidays.

The Junior Wardens taking part are Courtney Casson, Rebecca Holiday, Kira Robson, Kate Singleton, Kristian Kopetzki, Panida Pattinson, Kai Rutherford, Jade Connor, Chloe Laidlow, Matthew Graham, James Grearson and Peter Woolaghan and were chosen from St Mary’ s School, Kells and Valley School, Mirehouse.

The scheme has been set up in response to the recent ward level crime perception survey, which was carried out by South Whitehaven Neighbourhood Management in partnership with Cumbria Constabulary. The findings showed that the majority of people questioned, highlighted a lack of activities for young people in South Whitehaven and the perception was that young people are the cause of anti-social behavior.

As young people have a vital role to play in the regeneration of the community, the Junior Warden Scheme will encourage and train, active, responsible young citizens who can help South Whitehaven become a safer, cleaner more welcoming place.

Every Tuesday afternoon the Junior Wardens will be out and about with their note books, pens and disposable cameras, gathering evidence and learning about a wide range of topics, from understanding what a Neighbourhood Wardens’ role involves, learning about the issues and the effects fly tipping, graffiti, rubbish, broken glass and dog fowling has on the residents and how it impacts on quality of life issues.

A visit to Whitehaven Police Station and Workington Fire Station has been organised, which the youngsters were very enthusiastic about when they were first approached to see if they wanted to take part in the scheme.

But it is not all about work, as a thank you for taking part in the scheme our Junior Wardens will be treated to a trip to Ten Pin Bowling and Laser Quest at Workington and as part of the end of programme celebration an afternoon at Rookin House Farm Activity Centre, where they can sample the thrills and spills of the assault course, zip wire and human ball.

If the pilot scheme is successful then we will look rolling out further programmes in the future, making it available to more youngsters in South Whitehaven.

First published at 11:18, Friday, 14 August 2009
Published by http://www.southwhitehavenlocal.co.uk