A project to help pupils at a Burghfield school has been hailed a success after a year in operation.
The Willink School welcomed six School Pastors last May at a special commissioning service by the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Andrew Proud.
The pastors work alongside the school, local shops, Police Community Support Officers and the community around the school to help social cohesion. Volunteers from local churches, the Pastors take an active role in the pastoral care of teenagers and patrol one lunchtime a week, as well as organising an after-school patrol.
Midge Robinson, School Pastors co-ordinator, said: “The Willink School is a successful secondary school with Outstanding Academic Results and Outstanding Behaviour but as in any school, there are times when young people need to be reminded of their responsibilities to each other and the community they live in. Also, the perception of Young People by older members of the community needs to be addressed.”
The School Pastors project has played a part in that, getting alongside the teenagers and helping them. It is supported by Together In Mission, a coalition of churches in Burghfield, Mortimer, Sulhamstead and Padworth, and the surrounding area.
Midge said: “The role of the School Pastors remains to be there to listen, to offer help and care to the Young People and Staff at the School, it is not to evangelise in any way.
“During the school day the youngsters know that they can have a joke with the Pastors or be given a packet of tissues to wipe the tears after a falling out with friends or tumble on the football pitch!”
One of the ways in which the Pastors have made a real difference this is by helping reduce litter in area around the school to the delight of the school’s neighbours.
“Residents were concerned about litter on the Recreation Ground and youngsters congregating in groups on street corners or around buildings on the Recreation Ground,” Midge said. “As the patrols became a regular feature, community members commented on the reduced litter, they noticed less boisterous behaviour in green spaces and have begun to understand that youngsters grouping together is not something to be seen as threatening – they are just friends meeting and letting off steam after working hard at their lessons during the day.”
The School Pastors is now a team of eight, and will shortly be visiting nearby primary schools to meet Year 6 pupils about to head to secondary school.
For more on the work of TIM, log on to its website.
Last modified on Thursday, 05 June 2014 15:25
