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Renfrewshire youngsters take on a neighbourly interest
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The sight of small red fleeces will soon be commonplace, as the successful Junior Neighbourhood Warden pilot scheme takes off and expands across Renfrewshire.
Following the success of the first ever Junior Neighbourhood Warden service piloted in Johnstone Castle last June, a new group has just launched in the Gallowhill area of Paisley. This time the group is being run between two of the local primary schools, St Catherine’s Primary and Gallowhill Primary, and has already attracted around 20 P6 and P7 pupils.
The innovative pupil scheme, which is sponsored by Renfrewshire Council’s Neighbourhood Warden Service, encourages the children to take up the post of Junior Neighbourhood Warden. Each child recruited for the post of Junior Neighbourhood Warden has been given a child sized replica of the adult Neighbourhood Warden uniform - a red polo shirt and fleece with the words ‘Junior Neighbourhood Wardens’ embroidered on.
The new Gallowhill Junior Neighbourhood Wardens received an induction talk from a Gallowhill Neighbourhood Warden, from Superintendent Brian Lennox of Strathclyde Police, and from Paul Connelly of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service who all spoke about their respective roles in the community. Now under the guidance of school staff, senior wardens and parent volunteers, the junior wardens will meet once a week after school and get involved in local community projects such as building a wormery and visits to the police dog handling unit and fire service.
It is hoped that, once established, the junior wardens will get involved in other environmental projects, such as reporting graffiti, fly tipping and litter.
Councillor Anne Hall, Renfrewshire Council’s spokesperson for the environment and community safety, said: “I am delighted that the Junior Neighbourhood Warden scheme has proved so successful that it has now been rolled out to these two new schools in Gallowhill. It is certainly proving popular, by the number of pupils signing up to this new group.
“The junior warden scheme is not only an excellent way of getting children to think and take care of their immediate environment, it also a great way of promoting the role of the wardens in the local community. “
Neighbourhood Wardens play a key role in delivering Renfrewshire Council’s Anti Social Behaviour strategy.
Press Release: Tuesday 31 January 2006
