Youngsters get creative

30/09/2011

Pupils from Llanddulas and Llysfaen have been busy getting creative - designing posters for a new community safety calendar.

Youngsters from Ysgol Cynfran, Ysgol Tan Y Marian and Ysgol Llanddulas have been putting colouring pens to paper for a competition launched by Police Community Support Officer Niki Lodge. All school aged children between 3 and 11 years in the area are being invited to design a poster complete with corresponding safety message for a unique 2012 calendar.

“Each month will have a specific safety message,” said PCSO Lodge, “and we want the children to not only draw a great picture but also one that relays the specific safety or crime prevention message too.”

The competition was recently launched and this week, pupils at Ysgol Cynfran and representatives from Ysgol Tan Y Marian and Ysgol Llanddulas got to meet special guest High Sheriff of Clwyd Lloyd FitzHugh who paid a visit to see and learn for himself just how well pupils were getting on with their task.

High Sheriff of Clwyd & PC Westwood discussing the designs with pupils The High Sheriff was also treated to a tour of Ysgol Cynfran and learnt first hand about the school from some of its pupils. Before the visit was over, the High Sheriff, along with PCSO Niki Lodge, PC Ann Westwood and Melanie Lawton of the Arson Reduction team got to sit down with the youngsters from the three schools and see their ideas for pictures taking shape.

“There will be twelve winners in all, who will be chosen from the three schools,” explained PCSO Lodge. “Each school has been given four out of the 12 topics chosen so the winners will be separated equally between the three schools.”

The topics listed to feature in the calendar are: Road safety, Bonfire night, Halloween, Home safety at Christmas time, Vehicle safety, Anti-social behaviour, Woodland safety, Bullying, Stranger danger, Dog fouling and littering, Rogue Traders and Be Bright Be Seen.

Funding for the production of the calendars has been awarded from the High Sheriffs Charity Crimebeat, which donated £400, Conwy Community Safety donated £100, and a further £250 was received from the Arson Reduction Team.

Once the closing date ends and the winners chosen, the community safety calendars complete with the winning designs will go to print. Thanks to the funding given, each pupil from the three schools will receive a copy as a present. Additional copies will be issued to the elderly within the local community.

Melanie Lawton said: “The Arson Reduction Team is pleased to be working with North Wales Police on this worthwhile project. We are happy to support anything that reduces crime and that makes young people fell safer in their environment.”

Speaking about his visit High Sheriff of Clwyd, Lloyd FitzHugh said: “Ysgol Cynfran is a really vibrant school with a strong community feel about it. The pupils are full of enthusiasm and the members of the school council clearly enjoyed showing me around. I was particularly impressed with the link that has been made with the school in India.”