CARING youngsters who have signed up as "Junior Wardens" to help their neighbourhoods have won special recognition.
A group of Year 5 children from Leatherhead Trinity School have been learning about issues like antisocial behaviour and road safety, and have been helping their community however they can, through initiatives like litter picks.
And now the scheme – run by Mole Valley Housing Association (MVHA) and backed by Surrey Police – has won official accreditation from exam board AQA, meaning it can now form part of pupils' personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.
The scheme has been backed by the High Sheriff of Surrey, Karin Sehmer, who will visit the school in December, to catch up on the pupils' progress.
She said: "The Junior Wardens scheme is a fantastic way of letting young people who love where they live make a real difference to their areas. I am looking forward to seeing it in action when I visit Leatherhead Trinity School next month."
Children taking part in the scheme receive weekly lessons, which have included visits from police officers, fire service staff and MVHA Neighbourhood Wardens.
One of the pupils taking part, nine-year-old Maisie Jones, said: "I'm learning a lot by becoming a Junior Warden.
"It is teaching me that there is a lot we can do to keep the areas where we live great places to be."
Another class of children from the school will take part in the Junior Wardens scheme next term.
MVHA hopes to eventually offer the scheme to more children by working with other schools in Leatherhead, Dorking and the surrounding areas.
Mrs Sehmer will visit Leatherhead Trinity School on December 13, to meet pupils and present a class certificate celebrating their progress so far.
MVHA, which owns and manages more than 3,500 properties that were previously owned by Mole Valley District Council, is committed to creating "sustainable communities".
