Story: Firvale School students
As part of Citizenship Day at Firvale School on 24th March, and in an effort to build positive relationships in the community, eight students and several staff set out to build and fix a gate. The gate will prevent access to a private landlord’s property used by local young people as a ‘hang-out’ and smoking area.
“We had to cut and sand the posts, measure the pieces and fit it all together! We varnished the wood and made it sparkle! We tried to make the project sustainable by using mostly reclaimed materials.”
Students feel that local residents often blame them for litter, sometimes with good cause, but it can also be others who are the worst offenders, and they wanted to show that most Firvale students are doing the right thing.
“It was nice for local residents to see our school helping clean up around the area.”
The students also worked with the Streetforce Community Team to think about the impact of litter around the school.
“We went out in teams to litter-pick the area, and came back with bags of rubbish and some stories too! We knew that even after picking most of it up, by lunchtime the litter would most definitely be back! The worst part of the day was when we found a dead RAT in the middle of the patch we were clearing!”
Doing this activity changed the way the students saw the environment around the school and made them realise what a difference they can make.
“By just throwing your litter in the bin it helps make our community a cleaner and better place.”