Junior NANW

Top marks for schools project

 The innovative schools project by North Aldridge NHW has chalked up top marks with the judges of the UK Neighbourhood Watch Trust Group of the Month competition.  North Aldridge Neighbourhood Watch secretary Tony Marshall is the driving force behind the 'Safety In The Community' pilot scheme, run for nine and ten-year-olds at their local junior school.  It proved such a success that Tony and his team of Watch volunteers and police community support officers have been invited back to the school next year. Now Tony is working on plans to introduce his classroom crime workshops to more schools in Walsall, Birmingham – and hopefully across the country.  Tony said: "We really had fun and the children have loved finding out how they can reduce local crime. We have had great support from the school, and comments from parents and children are very positive."

 During the four weeks the children learnt how to protect their bikes, mark mobile phones, what to do in an emergency and how important it is to be aware of things going on around them when they are out playing. A lot of thought went into preparing for each of the workshops with the accent on creating a series of fun activities – to put across a serious message.  "It's been a wonderful example of team work between Neighbourhood Watch, Neighbourhood Policing and the community," said Tony.l as getting the thumbs up from the teachers at Leighswood School, the efforts of North Aldridge Neighbourhood Watch have resulted in them winning our September Group of the Month competition.

 Along with a framed certificate from the UK Neighbourhood Watch Trust, the North Aldridge group wins a top-of-the-range, £99 paper and documents shredder, kindly donated by ACCO Rexel.