EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / In one short paragraph please describe this project and what it has achieved.
We will use this in any future publicity material.

The Junior Warden scheme introduced in Fraserburgh and Peterhead, with the support of the Community Wardens, Grampian Police, Grampian Fire and Rescue Service and others, has seen groups of Primary 7 pupils work towards improving their environs by encouraging them to be aware of the needs of their communities, how to improve the environment around them and to work along with agencies and other community members to make their neighbourhoods better and safer. The young people involved participate in activities which will give them insight into volunteering, caring, democracy and citizenship.

PLANNING / · a clear rationale, defined processes and focus on stakeholder needs
· contributes to organisation’s goals, community plan and SOA, and national policy context

The Community Wardens were introduced in Fraserburgh and Peterhead in 2005 as a Community Planning resource and were initially funded through the Scottish Government. Funding for this resource is now provided by Aberdeenshire Council. The Junior Warden project was initiated as an extension of the Community Warden’s scheme in 2009 because of an identified need for individual young people who may not be participating in positive activities which would allow them to develop into productive adults able to contribute to their communities in the area.

Grampian Police officers and the Community Wardens working in the areas of Fraserburgh and Peterhead approached the local primary schools and requested that they identify young people in Primary 7 who would soon progress to secondary school who might benefit from working with them and other agencies.

The Aberdeenshire Community Plan priorities which are relevant to this project are “Community Wellbeing” – enhance the quality of everyday life across Aberdeenshire by improving health and social care, housing and community safety and “Lifelong Learning” – develop and improve learning opportunities and build stronger communities in Aberdeenshire by improving knowledge and skills, developing confidence, promoting inclusion and empowering communities.

The Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) identifies as a priority the improvement of safety and environment of those living in our communities and the Junior Wardens have worked towards this goal. The SOA also seeks to tackle an antisocial behaviour and neighbourhood difficulty which is an area the Junior Wardens spent time with agencies identifying and working on improvements.

DELIVERING / · implemented in all relevant areas and across all the required stakeholders
· carried out in a structured and logical way , using robust and sustainable methods

Funding to provide some uniforms and workbooks was initially attracted from the Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership. Once the Junior Wardens were identified and working, further funding was sought by the Community Wardens from local businesses and several other sources along with ‘in kind’ support from a local supermarket and the “Lifeshapers” project which works with young adults who have overcome drug and alcohol problems and require assistance in seeking employment and volunteering work to help them integrate back into society. The supermarket provided food and drinks to the Junior Wardens and others who worked to clean up some areas of their communities which had suffered most severely from litter, etc. and Lifeshapers provided hot food while the Junior Wardens carried out other duties around the towns.,

The Fraserburgh Junior Wardens also worked in surrounding villages and, while doing so, became involved and interested in communities outwith their own. The Partnership supporting and working with the Junior Wardens has grown to include, as well as Grampian Police, Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, Lifeboat/Coastguard and the Ambulance Service. The Junior Wardens work at weekends during term time but work for a full five days in school holiday time.

INNOVATION + LEADING PRACTICE / · Demonstrates leading practice
· Achieves genuine innovation or new ways of working

The Junior Warden schemes were introduced to Aberdeenshire in 2009 and are the first time such an initiative involving primary school pupils has been carried out in the area. The scheme has been introduced and developed by the Community Wardens and Grampian Police in partnership with the primary schools of the area and has proved to be an excellent way of working with young people identified as requiring extra support and confidence to develop their skills and awareness of community issues along with their responsibilities to and for their environment. The scheme draws on the abilities and skills of community planning partners to help promote safer and cleaner communities and to influence the behaviour of young people.

RESULTS + IMPACT / · a convincing mix of customer perception and internal performance measures
· clear line of sight to the delivery of the Single Outcome Agreement
· a full range of relevant results showing improvement over time

The Community Wardens and Grampian Policed feel that through the introduction of the Junior Warden schemes, they have fostered valuable relationships and promoted positive behaviours outside of the home and school environment. As the children grow into their teenage years and transfer from primary to secondary education, they will have engaged with the police and other agencies on a social and educational level and will assist with various community projects in the months and years ahead. Each group of Junior Wardens working with the community planning partners consist of from 16 to 24 young people aged 11/12 years and after the initial week of induction and project work, continue to work closely with partners in community improvement initiatives. The young people also take their experiences back to their schools and share what they have learned and gained with their peer groups. To date over 100 young people have been and are involved in this project.

The most recent Aberdeenshire Citizens Panel survey indicates that less people feel unsafe while walking alone in town centres and more people feel that the level of crime has decreased in their local area. All antisocial behaviour indicators capable of historic comparison have reduced since the schemes were introduced in Fraserburgh and Peterhead with most dropping to their lowest levels in at least 3 years. A 23% reduction in vandalism in the last year alone is estimated to have effected total societal “cost savings” of over half a million pounds.

Although initially, the Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership provided funding for the Junior Wardens schemes, the Community Wardens have been able to attract enough funding and support in kind from within their communities to sustain this initiative without further financial input from the Council.

It is clear from the feedback from the young people involved, the agencies working with them and the communities themselves in Fraserburgh and Peterhead that the Junior Warden schemes have developed the young people involved, given them a sense of community and confidence to volunteer and take their skills back to their peer groups to share their experiences.

COSLA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2011 Page | 2