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Published:
April 16, 2009
Highbridge
Dreamscheme events show crime prevention can be fun!
Dozens
of youngsters in Highbridge have been busy over the school holidays,
creating crime prevention cards with an Easter theme as part of
the town's Dreamscheme project.
 An
Easter Card was designed by the committee featuring crime reduction
advice inside and useful phone numbers on the back for easy access
in case of an emergency.
The
youngsters were invited to draw colourful designs and write messages
on the remaining pages of each card.
Dreamscheme
organiser PCSO Claire Chambers told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The
youths all worked for three hours, learning about what a distraction
burglary is and then putting their designs onto the cards."
"Between
two afternoons and 46 young people, a total of 290 cards were
made, which was over double what we anticipated, meaning we had
to make a mad dash visit to the printers for more cards!"
 The
cards were then hand-delivered to 290 bungalows in the Morland
Road, Pepperall Road and Marine Drive areas of Highbridge.
Each
youth was responsible for delivering their own card, and they
knocked on the doors of each property to speak to the residents
and explain the Dreamscheme and the cards.
Claire
added: "All the youths thought it was a really valuable experience
and felt they had really made a difference."
She
added: "It was quite emotional seeing and hearing the young
people speaking to the elderly residents, and on one occasion
a lady cried because she couldn’t believe the group weren't
canvassing for money and simply wanted to do something nice to
keep them safe!"
 As
a reward, the committee organised a fun day in St John's School
playing field. A climbing wall was hired from Ready2Climb and
King Alfreds Sports Centre provided three staff to hold water
games and sports activities. CrazyPlay also donated a Bouncy Castle,
Boxing Ring and Soccer game for the day, which were thoroughly
enjoyed.
Isleport
Foods kindly funded catering for an outdoor picnic and the Di
Mascio Ice Cream Van arrived at the end of the day to let everyone
have a treat.
"We
were also visited by John Alvin from Somerset Crime Beat and Anna
Mudgely from Safer Homes in Sedgemoor, who each generously donated
£1,000 to the group. A big thank you goes to them –
they both seemed really impressed with the scheme and the youths
were a credit to us, behaving brilliantly."
 "The
day was great fun. Despite the overcast skies and rain in the
last hour, the youths weren’t dispirited and continued to
get themselves soaked on the water slide."
"Their
commitment to the scheme really shows that when young people are
given the opportunity, they can do wonderful things in their community."
Highbridge's
Dreamscheme has been set up by the Children and Young Persons
Sub-Committee of the Local Action Team for Highbridge, alongside
Highbridge Police. It involves young people aged 8-16 taking part
in community work and in return gaining points that can be used
towards day trips and other activities.
If
you are interested in joining Highbridge Dreamscheme, see the
official website available
here.
Click
here to see a photo gallery full of the latest Dreamscheme images
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