Sam EmanuelA new partnership between two city centre high schools, the police and Norwich's biggest residents' association was kick-started yesterday with a litter pick and graffiti clean.Sam Emanuel
A new partnership between two city centre high schools, the police and Norwich's biggest residents' association was kick-started yesterday with a litter pick and graffiti clean.
More than 20 youngsters from Notre Dame High School, escorted by PCSOs, met with other volunteers from around the city and worked hard in the Rose Lane car park with the support and help of the management team at Tesco Express in Prince of Wales Road.
The event was the first to happen as a result of the new partnership between the Central Norwich Citizen's Forum (CNCF), Notre Dame High School and Norwich School, which is designed to give young people who live or go to school in the city centre the chance to become involved in dealing with planning, licensing and countering anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder.
A �1,000 grant from the Norfolk Community Foundation is enabling the forum to set up and establish relations with its new youth membership, produce banners for each school, set up the website and their proposed Facebook group and produce and send out newsletters.
Julian Foster, chair of the CNCF, hopes there will be many similar events in the future, and said: 'This is an example of civil society at work in collaboration together for the benefit of the community at large.'
The area was taped off by PCSOs to prevent cars parking in the work area, and Tesco staff erected a banner and supplied T-shirts for volunteers, dust sheets, tools and other equipment from their community budget.
Their management team started before the teenagers arrived to sweep up any needles or other dangerous items, and Connaught removed all litter at the end of the exercise.
Tony Osborne, a market trader, supplied refreshments, which were transported in the PCSO van, and Norwich City Council provided the paint.
If you live or go to school in the city centre and would like more information about joining the citizens' forum, email julianf.foster@btopenworld.com
Are you doing something to benefit people in Norwich? Call Sam Emanuel on 01603 772438 or email sam.emanuel@archant.co.uk.
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