Pupils join force for good

Community-minded pupils from Ormsgill School have been recruited to this year’s team of Mini Police.

Some 21 pupils from Year 5 and Year 6 were selected to join the award-winning force through an application process.

This week they were presented with their badges and caps by Police Community Support officer Michelle Jones and Sergeant Gareth Sargent from the neighbourhood police team in a special assembly.

Ellie Strong, who is in Year 6, and aspires to run a business in future said she was really happy to be appointed.

“This is something I have wanted to do since Year 1. I want to make Ormsgill and Barrow a better place to live and to be safe.”

Year 5 pupil Thomas Ebbens also joins the team.

“This is so exciting,” he said. “I want to help people and learn new skills.”

As part of their duties they will lead assemblies around fire safety on Bonfire Night, organise litter picks, support community events including coffee mornings and create Christmas hampers.

Teaching Assistant Natasha Carter said the scheme helped them to develop confidence, leadership and community links as well as being role models for the school.

“Last year we won the Mini Police School of the Year award. The pupils love helping their community and it teaches them how to interact with different people.”

PCSO Michelle Jones, who won the Cumbria award for her work with Mini Police, said Ormsgill was one of the first schools to sign up five years ago.

“The scheme really enables us to engage with the children and connect on their level as well as promoting mutual respect. I now have teenagers coming up to me who remember their time in the mini police and we still have that good rapport.

“One 13 year old who was in mini police here told me the other week he is now going to join police cadets.”

Cambridge Primary, which is also part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, is also in the Mini Police.

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