Bexhill High students community project

This was a project organised by Neighbourhood Schools Officer Sarah Ellis of Sussex Police who was approached by Bexhill High school for ideas on how youngsters could get involved in community work.

She had the idea for working on the Glenco changing hut next to the pitch on St Mary's Lane from a colleague and was delighted to be given supplies and expert advice by Tradepaints in Beeching Road.

Sarah said: "I was really keen to get this project off the ground. The reputation of Bexhill High is not always good in the town, yet they work hard and it is a caring school. They have worked hard on this to get it off the ground."

The work was carried out in free time by a group of youngsters aiming to make up for poor behaviour in school - they were helped by volunteer student leaders as well as Debbie Holter, head of Endeavour House, Sue Wragg head of Atlantis House, and Ellie Gordon, assistant principal.

Ellie, who is responsible for behaviour policy, commented: "I think this is a really good idea. It has turned something negative into something positive and is making sure the students realise they can put something back into the community when they have done something wrong.

"What we have also is some of our Year 10 student leaders helping with the kids who have been naughty in school, which is making them more positive about school, as well as giving them positive role models to work with.

"The idea of this is to try and stop the students from being excluded - we want to keep students in school...The parents have been very supportive, none of them said - my child is not going to do that, so it is about getting parents on board as well. It is a real community project rather than something on its own that is isolated."