Stockport County Community Trust is delivering a brand-new Citizenship project to local primary schools.
As part of the Trust’s wider ‘Hatters in the Community’ programme, this six-week initiative is designed to help young people understand what makes a good citizen. Using classroom-based activities and practical skills sessions, it encourages them to make sensible choices in their life and make positive changes in their neighbourhood.
So far, the project has been delivered to Year 6 pupils at Adswood, Bridgehall and Larkhill primary schools, with Community Trust education and sports coaches working alongside five partner organisations.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police teach the children about obeying the law and avoiding crime in their local area – including knife crime and hate crime – and members from Stockport Youth Offending Service pass on their knowledge and experience via a ‘choices and consequences’ presentation.
Representatives from The Army run a workshop that themes itself around principles of trust, respect and discipline, and staff from Network Rail deliver a lesson which highlights the importance of staying safe around train lines and level crossings. Finally, charity Millie’s Trust offer practical, hands-on training in first aid skills and coping with emergencies.
Said the Trust’s Social Inclusion Lead, Matthew Bailey: ‘The Citizenship project has been designed to inspire and engage primary school pupils, and we’re hopeful that it will make a real impact.
‘We’d like to thank our partner organisations for offering their support, and for lending their time, knowledge and expertise. Without them, we couldn’t have got this scheme off the ground.’
