PUPILS from two Wokingham borough schools explained how they would like to eradicate graffiti and litter at a special presentation last week.
The teenagers from Emmbrook and St Crispin’s Schools visited Wokingham Town Hall to share their vision in a bid to win a share of a prize pot to put their schemes into action.
The initiative, organised by Wokingham Town Council, aims to protect Wokingham for the pupils and for generations to come.
And their projects are now being judged by the Town Councillors for the following criteria: Project management, individual and team contribution, design, innovation, embracing available resources, while keeping the target audience in mind.
Winning projects will win a Gold Prize of £1,000, Silver will be £500.
Cllr Lynn Forbes (Independent), who chairs the Town Council Graffiti Working Party, initiated the project in 2017.
Emmbrook School gave the project to Year Seven and St Crispin’s put together a cross school project group lead by the school’s Head Boy.
The town council said that by taking part, the students have been learning and employing project management skills within their projects. This, they say, will be great additions to their personal statements which they use at the end of their student life for job applications and university.
Cllr Forbes said: “The best thing about this project is that students across both schools are engaging on the topic of graffiti and litter. The youth of today are the adults of tomorrow, and it is so worthwhile to start the conversation today to ensure that the town remains a clean and wonderful place to be proud of in the future.
“I’ve loved going into the schools hearing student ideas and seeing their projects emerge. The students have been so creative – going in different directions to solve the problem and embracing technology to communicate the message.
“Best of all has been seeing the students enjoy what they are doing. School staff have really engaged in the project, helping students employ and learn new project management skills”.
And the scheme has been welcomed by the schools as well.
Ruth Blyth, pastoral director at Emmbrook School, said: “The Emmbrook Students have thoroughly enjoyed the project that Lynn has initiated. They are keen to be a part of the changing face of Wokingham and can see the benefits that the project has to offer them and the wider community. It has been quite inspirational to see their ideas grow.”
This view was echoed by Leona Bennets, the Student Leadership Coordinator at St Crispin’s School.
She said: “The pupils taking part can see the wider picture with regards to graffiti and litter, but the project has opened their eyes to how some people have no respect for their surrounding environment. This is the message they want to get across next year in assemblies, targeting both the school and wider community.”
The pupils have been keen to get stuck in to the project that aims to help make Wokingham look better.
Year 7 student from Emmbrook, Amelia Athey, said: “We want to provide a better place for Wokingham residents. While being involved in this project we have learnt a lot of skills like working as part of a team.
“Our decision making has improved and our confidence has risen. We would like all the residents of Wokingham to understand the impact of graffiti and how they can help eradicate it.”
And there is a desire to ensure this year’s appeal is not a one-off.
Wokingham Town Council said that away from the Schools project the Graffiti Working Party have been working with local retailers, businesses and resident groups to locate and remove graffiti before a location becomes a problem site.
This has included targeted jet washing, painting over sites and a trial initiative, coating the communication junction box opposite The Ship Inn. These, the town council said, are starting to have an impact in the town.
Cllr Forbes said that she is now working in a personal capacity with the Wokingham Borough Secondary School Federation on next year’s competition and is looking for sponsorship to help roll the project out to schools outside the remit of Wokingham Town Council.
To get involved by offering sponsorship or donations email lynn.forbes3@btinternet.com
