HELPING HANDS AWARD – PUPILS’ COMMUNITY WORK COMMENDED
Scores of Nottinghamshire school children have been commended for working with the police to tackle important local issues.
Schools across the county signed up to the Helping Hands Award initiative earlier this year, which encourages pupils to identify issues that affect their communities as well as coming up with solutions to the problem. The schools embarked on months of project work exploring issues like speeding motorists, raising awareness around race and equality, and arson. Each school has been working with their local police beat teams and representatives from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, as well as other local agencies. The pupils submitted their findings and accomplishments to the Helping Hands Award judges, who announced the winners at a presentation at the Bonnington Theatre in Arnold on Tuesday (19 June).
All Saints Primary School in Harworth took first place after setting up a ‘speed watch’ initiative to tackle speeding vehicles outside their school.
The Class Six pupils worked to devise ways to improve the safety of the road. They were awarded £1,000, which they plan to use to buy child-shaped bollards to place outside the school to discourage speeding.
In second place was Serlby Park Primary School in Bircotes, who were given £500 after deciding to encourage pupils to turn their backs on high-tech games and mobile phones to embrace active games from the past.
The pupils put the fun back into physical exercise and encouraged others to get fit and healthy. They were supported by their local officers, PCSOs Colin Haywood and Kendra Jacob, who were also handed outstanding achievement awards at the event.
Mansfield’s Sutton Road Primary School scooped £300 after taking third prize for their work raising awareness around race and equality.
Kathleen Faulconbridge, Youth Issues Co-ordinator for Nottinghamshire Police said: “The pupils who took part in the Helping Hands Award scheme gave a considerable amount of time and effort to try and make their communities a better and safer place to live.
“They have worked very closely with their local police beat teams, who have valued the opportunity to build relationships and help them to improve and develop the area in which they live.
“The work carried out by the conscientious youngsters will have increased their knowledge and understanding of the challenges and issues within their community, which could have huge benefits in the long term as they are now considering the massive impact their actions could have on the people around them.” | 
