Oxford Wardens win national award for Empowering Young People!!

NTRC

Louis Arundel - Walker and Mandy Wallington bring it home for the Oxford Warden Team

Our heartiest congratulations to the Oxford Warden team who are celebrating the fact that two of their team have been awarded the Wardens08 award for Empowering Young People, WELL DONE. Their story is below....

When Mandy and Louis arrived as a team in Woodfarm and Barton area it was very difficult for them. There was no communication with the young people and a lot of friction. So they took it upon themselves to visit schools, youth clubs and local events to introduce themselves and explain the role of a warden.

As time went on the local community began to trust them and recognize the good that they do for the area. Included in this were the young people who realized that the wardens could help them with their problems. It started when a brand new street sports site was built on the local park and the kids never had a ball. So they asked if we could lend them one. This started the relationship with young people. After chatting with them they decided to set up a football loan scheme, with a refundable deposit when the ball was returned. This became so successful that there was an article in the local press, which prompted the residents to donate footballs.

Alongside this Louis and Mandy have been working with younger children aged 8-13 promoting the junior warden scheme. Starting with just 5 the scheme now has between 30 and 40. The impact has been fantastic! The children have been doing events within the community which has been appreciated by everyone. They have taken ownership of 6 large concrete flower pots outside the parade that had been left to grow wild. They were weeded, replanted and maintained by the children. This improves the look of the area and given the children a sense of ownership. They have also planted two old rowing boats outside the community centre and had regular litter picks.

These activities and others run with the police and fire service have encouraged the children to respect the area more and it had given them the confidence to speak out to us or the police if there is something wrong.

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