Junior Warden Scheme

Two of our neighbourhood wardens, Neil Robinson and Mark Hamblin, delivered our first junior warden scheme with 19 children in Victory Class (Year 5), at Merton Abbey Primary School for 12 weeks from November 2008 to February 2009.

We designed a wide range of activities being interactive, fun and practical in nature linked with the national curriculum.

The sessions covered the role of the neighbourhood warden, anti-social behaviour, littering and graffiti, road safety, fire safety (with the Fire Brigade), recycling, and the role of CCTV (including a visit to CCTV room); talks from Assistant Chief Executive and the Manager of Estate Services.

A guided tour of Wimbledon Tennis site was arranged and we did an environmental audit of Merton Abbey Mills area including River Wandle. We provided the children with fluorescent waistcoats and boiler suits, for some outdoor activities, similar to those warn by the adult wardens, with council and junior warden logos included.

The aim of the scheme was to promote good citizenship and an awareness of the local environment. We targeted children of this age with the expectation that what they learnt will make them less likely to fall into crime or carry out anti-social behaviour later in their lives.

There was a review of all sessions with the junior wardens doing group posters of what they had learnt and enjoyed during the scheme. The scheme ended with a presentation of certificates of achievement from the Mayor. The children were very engaging throughout and the teacher was complimentary on the way the scheme was run and what his pupils have learnt from it.

The feedback from the school was as follows:

I found the Junior Wardens scheme to be educational, well organised, and above all very enjoyable for the children. They loved learning about CCTV cameras, the litter pick, meeting the fire brigade and all of the activities that were planned by the team. Neil, Mark and Steve grew in confidence vastly over the course of the sessions, and the children still enjoy chatting with them when they see them outside of school. I would recommend the scheme to any school.

Tom Purser, year 5 teacher

"In my view the Junior Warden scheme was fantastic. I enjoyed going to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis club because we got to learn about the history of it. Overall I enjoyed the scheme."

Brittany, year 5 pupil

"I thought the Junior Warden scheme was really helpful. I was so happy to participate in this scheme, I loved doing all the activities, and to learn about what the Neighbourhood Wardens do. To improve Junior Wardens, I think that you should make the activities last longer."

Danielle, year 5 pupil

"The best thing about Junior Wardens was the trips because they were really exciting. I think you could improve the road safety by adding more videos."

Nadia, year 5 pupil

"Dear Neil, Mark and Steve I would like to say a big thank you for training us and educating us because it’s the most important thing for me. The downside of the 10 weeks was that I wanted to see more landmarks."

Daniel, year 5 pupil

Our second scheme was run with Benedict School at Mitcham Cricket Green where wardens Peter Scola and Mark Hamblin worked with 27 children from Willow Class (Year 5). London and Quadrant Housing sponsored the scheme which was run identically to the first scheme with a visit to Deen City Farm replacing the trip to Merton Abbey Mills. The children were awarded certificates in recognition of completing the scheme by the Deputy Mayor of Merton on 10 July 2009 in the Council Chamber of Merton Civic Centre and were also each given goody bags and a L&Q baseball cap.

We are certain the scheme has met its aims and as a consequence of the success of these project there has been an enthusiasm both within the council and other head teachers to introduce similar schemes at other primary schools in the borough in the near future.

From November 2009 to January 2010 we ran another scheme with Merton Abbey Primary School (Year 5 Victory Class). From January to March 2010 we have been running a scheme William Morris Primary School (Year 5 Pandas Class). We are planning to run our next scheme with Garden Primary School (Year 6) from May to July 2010 and other schools later in 2010.

You can read more about our Junior Neighbourhood Wardens Scheme in Merton Together, Spring 2011.

The Neighbourhood Wardens service is operated by Merton Priory Homes:

Merton Priory Homes
The Grange
1 Central Road
Morden
SM4 5PQ

Phone: 0300 500 3000
Email: contactmph@circleanglia.org

Last modified 09/02/11

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