Blackburn youngsters help transform church grounds
5:00pm Friday 6th July 2012 in News
WORK The youngsters start their tasks
A DOZEN green-fingered teenagers have been hailed for rejuvenating a community through a week’s hard work.
Pupils from Blakewater College in Blackburn have been completing a project at Westbury Gardens United Reformed Church.
Teacher Joe Burns said they youngsters first cleared 440 kilos of rubbish from the site ahead of a major refurbishment of the site.
Mr Burns, who also runs a judo club at the church community centre, said he hopes he can help make the youngsters’ work a regular effort at the site.
He said: “We have taken 12 students down every day this week and they have made a real difference.
“Many of the children live in the local community and it is nice to see them give a little bit back.
“They have all worked really hard.”
He said that much of the work had seen overgrown trees and hedges cut back. Complaints had been made that children had been hiding in the undergrowth at the site and jumping out at walkers.
Mr Burns added: “The kids have really enjoyed it and most live in walking distance from the church anyway.
“A lot of people in the church congregation are very elderly and the church grounds have become very overgrown.
“When we came down earlier to remove all of the rubbish we found all sorts.
“There were mattresses and all sorts of rubbish here before we could even get started.”
He said that looking forward he wants to put together a group of 14 or 15 youngsters to help with planting and agricultural work at the site.
Comments(2)
norah bhatty
says...
1:13pm Sat 7 Jul 12
I have heard in general conversation (but not clarified) that the council do give 'grants' of £200 for projects such as this, if accepted.
For people considering other projects such as the one reported, it is worth making enquiries at the very least - Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
MiArse says...
7:12pm Fri 6 Jul 12
These kids have done themselves proud, but more alarmingly the organisers have taken the responsibility off the council who are required to maintain these areas, and who will have staff trained in doing so.
What would the headline have read if one of these kids accidentally
cut themselves on a syringe or other health risk.