School Grapevine: Thornhill students volunteer to clean up area

During the summer holidays pupils took part in the Together 1 Community project to renovate neglected areas in Thornhill.

The West Yorkshire Police Community Trust and PC Jude Ford organised the four-day project, which was funded by grants from The Police Community Trust and Kirklees councils.

Pupils, teachers and a school governor from Thornhill Community Academy (TCA) were involved.

Kirklees Rangers supplied rubbish bags and helped with cutting back shrubbery in the ginnels around the academy.

PCSOs and volunteers from Thornhill Parish Church and a local mosque were also among the team. Imran Farook and volunteers from his mosque worked on the project.

He said: “It’s great that people from different religions have come together for this project.

“It will make people realise that everyone is different but we do still respect each other.” The team painted over graffiti, trimmed shrubbery and picked up litter in public places and residents’ gardens.

Rabia Iqbal, deputy head girl at TCA, and youth worker Raz Mohammed interviewed locals and asked their opinion on the project.

Paul, resident from Partridge Crescent, said: “It’s fantastic, bringing everybody together for the same greater good.

“It will make a happier community.”

PC Jude Ford, Safer Schools Partnership Officer at TCA, said: “Everyone worked really hard for the good of the community.

“I hope that the Together 1 Project will continue in the forthcoming years, so pupils and volunteers can come together again.”