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Scheme receives royal award

from Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com)

South London Press

News

Scheme receives royal award

Aug 6 2003

By Vicky Wilks

A SUMMER holiday project for teenagers that began in Norwood 15 years ago, has been given a royal stamp of approval.

Lambeth Summer Projects Trust was one of just 20 organisations across London to receive the prestigious Queen's Golden Jubilee Award last week.

The trust was the brainchild of Lambeth police who joined forces with the residents of Norwood back in 1988 in a bid to curb troublesome local youngsters.

Teenagers had been congregating in Norwood Park and causing problems for local people who finally decided something had to be done.

With cops, they set up a holiday project at Norwood School to offer constructive activities for youngsters during the long summer breaks.

The project was so successful it was replicated in Clapham, Brixton and Kennington and the trust became a registered charity.

The trust sees police and volunteers run four-week long holiday schemes that include a huge range of activities, at affordable prices.

This summer, three schemes have been run involving about 600 children in total. The Norwood/Streatham project is running at Bishop Thomas Grant secondary school, Belltrees Grove. About 300 children are taking part at a cost of just £20 each.

Activities include football, basketball, badminton, archery, rock climbing, ice skating and go-karting, workshops in dance, photography and computers, and trips to London Zoo and London Aquarium.

Organiser PC Jane Rolph told The Post: "The aim is to give the kids some fun but also a bit of education - we want them to learn about citizenship and also to develop better relationships with police."

Last Thursday, the Streatham children attended a short ceremony at the school where the Jubilee Award was handed over.

The award is designed to recognise the unsung heroes of the voluntary and community world.

PC Rolph said: "Everyone involved is very pleased with the award, particularly as only 200 were given throughout the country."

* All the trust's holiday schemes are now full.

(posted 7540 days ago)

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