Pictured: Student Bhavini Jivram plants flowers as part of
The Challenge project which has been helping to improve communities
in Coventry
Young people have been taking on 'The Challenge' of making a
difference in communities across Coventry in a bid to build their
skills and boost their CV ready for university.
More than 50 youngsters have taken part in a three-week project
which has seen them improve areas in Cheylesmore, Foleshill and
Bell Green by doing tasks, such as painting fences and planting
shrubs and flowers.
Whitefriars Housing has teamed up with The Challenge, which is a
civic service project aimed at helping 15 to 16 year olds learn key
skills such as team work, to create projects for pupils from across
Coventry and Warwickshire to take part in.
The projects included environmental improvements such as
painting fences at Stretton Avenue, Willenhall, and Kent Close,
Cheylesmore, and planting flowers at Almond Tree Avenue, Bell
Green, and Christopher Hook House at Foleshill.
The Challenge is a three-week project which sees the young
people do a 'personal challenge' such as abseiling, a 'team
challenge' which includes the Whitefriars project and finally the
'real challenge' which the young people create themselves to make a
mark in their own community, and finally they celebrate their
'graduation'.
Larna Brooks, 16, from Shirley near Birmingham, said: "I really
have got a lot out of The Challenge. It's helped me see things in a
different way and has pushed me emotionally, physically and
mentally.
"I've really enjoyed helping people in the community. It has
made me want to do more volunteering and charity work as I can see
how much people appreciate the work we have done."
Anne Turner, area services manager for Whitefriars at St James'
Lane, said: "This has been a great partnership for Whitefriars
because we have been able to give young people a constructive
project to get involved with, and it has had a positive impact on
communities in Coventry.
"It has been lovely to see the young people so determined and
passionate about the project and their energy and enthusiasm has
really helped to make a difference for people living in the
community."