Press releases

2 Apr 2007

Warden Tony Praised For Sporty Scheme

South Tyneside's Community Wardens have added to their ever-growing collection of accolades, winning recognition for their part in a sporty solution to a vandalism problem.

In an innovative approach to tackling vandalism at Lord Blyton School, Simonside, the Wardens opened up the school's sports pitches to local youngsters on weekends, a peak time for vandal attacks.

Their presence has been successful in deterring would-be vandals from entering the Blyton Avenue premises, bringing about a dramatic reduction in incidents.

And at the recent North East Warden Regional Awards ceremony at Darlington Football Club, warden Tony Thompson was presented with a "highly commended" certificate for his role in the scheme.

Simonside and Rekendyke ward representative, Councillor Ed Malcolm, who is also a Lord Blyton School governor, said: "I'd like to congratulate Tony on receiving this well-deserved recognition. The idea for the scheme came from a meeting held in November, when ward councillors got round the table with Community Wardens, members of the Council's Community Safety, Anti-Social Behaviour and Sports Development teams, as well as the police and the school's head teacher.

"Community Safety put up funding for the Sports Development team to offer sports activities at the school on Saturdays. Then, Tony and the Community Wardens stepped in to arrange and supervise activities on the all-weather pitch on Sundays. It's been a real team effort.

"There has been a dramatic reduction in vandalism and we are delighted with its success. Though the initiative is still in a trial period, we are doing all we can to extend it."

The award is the latest in a string of accolades picked up by the Community Wardens team since it was formed in 2001.

Councillor Joanne Bell, Lead Member Safer and Stronger Communities, said: "The success story of South Tyneside's Community Wardens goes on and on. This scheme shows that our wardens are not just about enforcement; they are about finding and applying workable solutions to difficult problems.

"We are determined to crack down on school vandalism, and this solution demonstrates our willingness to look at a wide range of options aimed at tackling the problem. As well as reducing vandalism at the school, the scheme has numerous other benefits, such as enabling our young people lead active lives.

"It is also giving the Wardens a great opportunity to form strong links with local youngsters, which should reap benefits in the future."

The award was presented to Tony by Sian Bunn, manager of the Middlesbrough-based North East Wardens Regional Resource Centre.

"I'm delighted Tony has received this recognition for his innovative and thoughtful work in South Tyneside," she said.

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