Changing Tracks in primary schools

Sir Clive Loader at Mowmacre Hill Primary School

Police and Crime Commissioner, Sir Clive Loader visited Mowmacre Hill Primary School to see young children using art to increase school attendance and reduce antisocial behaviour.

The project called Changing Tracks is one of the schemes involving young people that receives funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Sir Clive took the opportunity to visit the school fair and meet the young people involved.

Twelve young people from the school along with project artist Sally Lemsford, have been working together to increase understanding of local problems with antisocial behaviour, in particular damage to public property and graffiti, and to improve engagement with parents.

At the school’s Christmas fair held on Thursday 3 December, the children shared their initial artwork with Sir Clive as well as taking the opportunity to talk with parents.

He said: ”This project is one of many in which I invest tax-payers’ money to help address antisocial behaviour and turn around young lives. It was great to see the way these young people, whose energy and enthusiasm shines through and confirms that they have so much to give, respond to this initiative. I very much hope that my successor will continue likewise to invest in order to help turn around young lives and thus reduce the load on our police force.”

Changing Tracks is a project run by Pedestrian, in partnership with Mowmacre Hill Primary, Barley Croft Primary and Braunstone Community Primary schools alongside local artist Sally Lemsford. It is a project working with primary aged children across three of the most deprived wards in Leicester with significantly high levels of ASB. The intervention works with children and families giving them skills, confidence and abilities to channel their energy into positive pursuits.