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Praise for PRU pupils paint project

Students from Bridgend Pupil Referral Unit have been given a local walkway a colourful facelift as part of a scheme to raise awareness of the effects of anti-social behaviour in the community.

The painting project is part of ‘PUPIL’ (Pupils understanding Problems in their Locality), an EU-funded scheme which has been running at the Aberkenfig-based unit for a number of years.

Weekly sessions are delivered in the PRU by Matthew Nicholas of PUPIL with the support of local PCSO Chris Bowen, Aberkenfig Neighbourhood Policing Team. As part of the sessions students have identified a number of projects both within and outside of the school that they feel would have a positive impact on the local environment.

They have already built a gazebo in the school grounds and installed trellising and climbers to improve the look of an area.

Now a local tunnel which was heavily vandalised by graffiti has been identified by the pupils as a project they could do something to improve by painting it.

The tunnel is used by local infant children to walk to school and the local community to access a park.

Matthew said: “I have been working closely with PRU pupils since January this year, and to their credit they have engaged in a number of projects out doors and have developed new skills and links with the community. I’m very impressed to see the enthusiasm they have displayed for the tunnel painting and other projects.”

PCSO Chris Bowen added: “I have been involved with the students at the PRU as part of the PUPIL scheme for the last two years. The scheme is successfully building positive links between the PRU and the local community. They can feel proud of the contribution they are making to improve their local community.”

Sian Davies, Leader of Learning for Key Stage 3 has worked alongside the pupils in the work they have done for PUPIL. She said: “The work completed by our pupils recently has been really impressive, they have learnt new practical skills whilst developing valuable social and team working skills that have been of benefit to the individual pupils and our local community.” 

Maesteg WIN National Crime Beat Award!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MAESTEG STUDENTS FOR WINNING THE NATIONAL CRIME BEAT AWARDS!

The PUPIL Scheme group at Maesteg School today (March 21^st 2012) presented a short presentation to a panel of esteemed judges and followed it up with a viewing of their animation project before being crowned NATIONAL WINNERS!

The animation project began back in October 2011 and was the brainchild of the young people participating on the PUPIL scheme, it was subsequently backed by the South Wales Police Youth Trust, this backing funded the workshops with TurnipStarfish allowing it all to become a reality. 

PCSO Bella Rees and PCSO David Johnson have supported the group throughout the project and have been featured in the animations. 

The group spent 2 days creating the animation, hand making the characters, backgrounds, recording the voiceovers, producing the credits and writing the story lines based around issues they have witnessed in their own community.

On December 8th 2011 the year 8 group launched their animation in a very special assembly. The animation project has since grown from strength to strength.  The animation is now being shown in The Princess of Wales Hospital, Singleton Hospital, Morriston Hospital and Neath Port Talbot Hospital. 

On March 15th the group were invited to The High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan Youth Community Awards and successfully came 2nd in their category, winning £250! 

The animation project was then invited to London to attend the UK National Crime Beat Awards where the group have been crowned National Winners.

The group received their prize which also included an all expenses paid three course meal at the Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, an afternoon on the London Eye and an open top bus tour around London!

Well done all, a truly fabulous achievement!

More to follow soon...   

Pontllanfraith Conference huge success

Well Done to Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School on organising and delivering an effective anti bullying conference for 300 year 6 pupils at Ty Penallta Ystrad Mynach on the 29^thFebruary. The event was effective in further promoting their aim of stopping bullying and we wish them every success in the future. 

Maesteg in Awards Final

The children from Maesteg Comprehensive have been put forward to the final of the UK Crime Beat Awards together with 3 other projects. On the 21^stMarch they are attending London to possibly become national champions. We wish them success. During the day the children will embark on an open top bus trip around the city and will attend the award ceremony. 

Ebbw Vale pupils raise awareness of excessive drinking

This term Ebbw Vale Comprehensive School have worked hard to develop a project on drugs, alcohol and substance misuse. As part of their project their aim was to raise awareness of the dangers and effects of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and smoking within the local community. To achieve this, the pupils decided that they wanted to create leaflets and surveys to distribute within Ebbw Vale town centre.

Accompanied by PCSO Chris Wright and Mr Colin Morris, teacher at Ebbw Vale comprehensive school, the pupils were given the opportunity to distribute the work they had created on the 24^thof November 2011. The day was extremely successful with the pupils distributing over 100 leaflets!

PCSO Rhian Hodges who was involved in creating the leaflets with the pupils said

“On the sessions I’ve had the pleasure of attending, it’s been nice to see a lot of hard work demonstrated by the students. Particularly Gavin Stinton who made a terrific smoking and binge drinking leaflet. I hope that the pupils will maintain this in the new year.”

“I know that PCSO Chris Wright and I were extremely proud of the pupils” SPO Tom Addiscott

“Their project has given them the opportunity to develop an awareness of social and life issues which enable them to develop their independent thinking. On the 24^ththe pupils met members of the public to raise an awareness of these dangers. They showed a good deal of maturity and confidence when speaking to members of the public and they made the school proud.” Mr Colin Morris (Ebbw Vale Comprehensive School)

Pontllanfraith are huge success at Anti-Bullying Conference!

A year 11 group from Pontllanfraith comprehensive school have embarked upon a project to try and raise awareness of the issues surrounding bullying. The group have completed research on the topic and are organising a bullying awareness event in February for year six students from the Caerphilly County Borough. In November the group got invited to attend an anti bullying conference in London hosted by the Princess Diana Memorial Award. The group took part in workshops with other students from throughout the UK, saw performances from Twist and Pulse, met celebrities and pitched their project ideas to the dragons den panel. The group stood up in front of 300 people and pitched their ideas to the dragons den panel and were awarded second out of all the candidates.

“The students have done an incredible job this year and have worked very hard in organising their anti bullying event, I am very proud of what they have achieved so far and am sure they will continue to work hard and have many more great achievements in the future.” SPO Emma Moses

Maesteg Young Animators!

Year 8 pupils at Maesteg School have created an animation based on Substance misuse. They feel there is a drug and alcohol misuse problem in some of the areas they live and socialise in.  They decided that an animation would be a good way to communicate with a range of audiences.  Thanks to a grant from South Wales Police Youth Trust they were able to create their film.  The story lines for the animation are based on things they have seen or heard in the community and what they think happens in each circumstance.  The pupils worked closely with their SPO Gemma Jones, PSCO’s Bella Rees and David Johnson.

PCSO Bella Rees said   “The project is going really well and the pupils have learned how to use animation technology really quickly. They have come up with loads of ideas and have worked brilliantly as a team to turn their storyboards into films. It’s certainly the first ever time I’ve been made into an animated character.”

Lauren Bumford (aged 12) said   “We are all enjoying having a go at being animators, which certainly takes a lot of preparation and patience. The project will deliver an important message to young people about the dangers of alcohol and drugs.”

This will be playing on a loop at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Neath Port Talbot Hospital, Singletom Hospital and Morriston Hospital.  Therefore achieving it’s aim of raising awareness and educating.  On December 8th the animation was launched, to celebrate the launch of the DVD a presentation was held at Maesteg School.  The Pupils recived a certificate and a copy of their DVD to reward them for their hard work,  and success on thier PUPIL project.  To congratulate the Pupils on their Sucess the certificates were presented by the High Sheriff, Barbara Wilding and Inspector Steven Rees.

WELL DONE to you all! A big thank you also to PCSOs Bella and Dave!

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