Kind Huyton Students up for national award

Kind hearted pupils from a Knowsley school have won an award for helping their neighbours fight crime and their fear of crime.

Anti social behaviour was causing some problems for residents of a sheltered housing scheme near Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning.

Some pupils had been using Marshfield Close as a short cut to and from school and this had caused some damage and made the residents anxious.

The students realised that fear of crime had become the problem and this  stemmed from a lack of any relationship between the two groups.

They set up a project to promote a positive image of young people and invited the residents to come to some of the after school activities.

The residents held sessions to teach the young people how to knit and the students entertained them with acting, singing and bingo.

Their hard work has won them The Merseyside Crimebeat Award, run by the High Sheriff’s Association and they’ll now go forward to the national finals.

Cllr Jackie Harris, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Social Inclusion said: “The hard work and imagination of these young people has made such a difference.

“This really breaks down barriers and helps reduce the fear that some older people feel about the younger generation.

“The pupils are now planning to teach the residents computer skills and find volunteers to tidy their gardens up for spring.”

Crimebeat is a national charity supported by the High Sheriff’s Association to encourage children and young people to carry out projects to reduce crime and improve the environment.

Residents of Marshfield Close enjoy some Chinese food with pupils from the school.