On mid-summer’s day the Ferryhill Ambassadors represented by pupils from Ferryhill Station Primary, Broom Cottages Primary, Dean Bank Primary, Cleves Cross Primary and school leaders from Ferryhill Secondary School, assisted by Durham Community Foundation and Approach Too have been visiting Westminster and were accompanied on their tour by Paul Howell MP for Sedgefield. During the visit the Ambassadors stopped for a number of photo opportunities including in Westminster Hall and a tour of the Speaker’s House.
Paul Howell MP said: “Ferryhill Ambassadors is an excellent program which helps children get involved with their communities and effect tangible change. By showing them round Westminster and giving them a flavour of what happens here, they will hopefully want to get involved, and their families might too. We all see things from our own perspective, but we should listen to each other and that includes children. Spending time with the Ferryhill Ambassadors has been the highlight of my week and I hope that they have enjoyed their visit as much I have enjoyed spending time with them.”
Ferryhill Ambassadors for Community Change project is run by Approach Too in all the primary schools in Ferryhill. The Ambassadors seek to establish links to local and national decision makers; find out the views of children in their community and to have conversations with adults who can help them bring about change.
The Ambassadors engage with the community with a number of activities, including:
- Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner’s Challenge, which was rolled out to Year 5 pupils in all the primary schools in Ferryhill;
- Highlighting to Durham County Council that the path that pedestrians have to walk on to get to Mainsforth Park is overgrown and is a cause for concern;
- Working with Livin and Durham County Council to bring about meaningful change in the community and leading on campaigns to make their town cleaner and safer;
- Working with Ferryhill Town Council to improve Notice Boards around Ferryhill and, earlier this year, showing their appreciation for other hard working organisations with the “Thank You” plaques awarded to local heroes who help to look after their families and community.
Glenys from Approach Too, who works closely with the Ferryhill Ambassadors said: “The visit to Westminster is designed to show our children and young people the seat of democracy and show how debate and conversations shape and protect our democracy. If children and young people know what is happening, then they have the choice to accept or change it. It is so important that we create links to local and national decision makers and we are extremely grateful that Paul has always been willing to help us to achieve this.”
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
