Good citizens enjoy a week of activities in Daventry

Children aged eight to 13 took part in the Good Citizens Award scheme, organised by Daventry District and South Northamptonshire Community Safety Partnership with Daventry’s Phoenix Youth Academy. All of the children who took part received a certificate recognising their efforts.

The free week included sessions by the police covering online safety, the impacts of anti-social behaviour and Blue Butterfly Project, which helps children understand the feelings they might have if they witness domestic violence or are affected by bullying.

Northamptonshire Fire Service ran a session about fire and water safety and gave the young people a chance to get to grips with equipment on the fire truck, Futures Housing Group held a workshop on the importance of being a good neighbour, and District Councillors Alan Hills and Amy Howard spoke about the role of local democracy and led children in a debating activity.

There was also street art workshop, a session with the Police Cadets and fun sporting activities with the Play Rangers from the Phoenix Youth Academy.

Councillor Hills, who is also vice-Chairman of the community safety partnership, said: “The aim of the event was to provide positive activities for young people during the summer holidays, to enable them to learn what good citizenship means in our district.

“This was the first time this event has been run. Consulting with young people led the way for its formation and there was a good deal of interest after we advertised it through local schools ahead of the summer holidays. It was very successful and the young people got a lot out of the week, so we would certainly like to run it again in future.”

The community safety partnership brings together partners including Daventry District Council, South Northamptonshire Council, Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, Northamptonshire County Council, Nene Clinical Commissioning Group, Futures Housing Group and others to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the community.

The Play Rangers from the Phoenix Youth Academy are running free activities for seven to 14-year-olds at venues across Daventry during the summer.

They will be at Fishponds on the Southbrook on Tuesdays, the park next to the Grange School on Wednesdays, the playing fields next to the Spider Park on Headlands on Thursdays and the New Street Recreation Ground on Fridays.

All sessions run from 10am to midday and parents/guardians must be there at the start of the session to complete a registration form and be available to collect children at the end.