A pioneering scheme in Bradford is helping break down barriers between the young and elderly - thanks to a community-minded police officer. Ashley Broadley looks at the scheme and talks to both sides.

A gang of youths is patrolling an area outside a residential home for pensioners.

They are all in their teens and are carrying gardening tools.

It may look to many people that they are about to try and break in to the flats, using the tools to force open a door or a window.

It is a perception of today's youth which many of us have. Some people may even be afraid to approach the youths, scared they might be attacked or verbally abused.

But from the residential home emerges a pensioner, carrying some ice-cold pop and crisps for the youngsters.

The pensioner's gesture does not fit the scenario. That is because these youngsters are helping the residents by cutting down the huge hedge surrounding the home - to make it a safer place to live and less prone to attacks from burglars.

They also help pick up litter, shop for the residents and help carry out security marking on some to the residents' property.

The youngsters are part of a pioneering police scheme in the Toller Lane division which is celebrating its first anniversary.

Set up by PC Tim Illingworth, the Work to Play scheme has notched up 3,500 hours in community service and involved more than 350 young people.

Youngsters are rewarded with leisure points when they complete a project, which can be "spent" at places like Bradford City matches, Bradford Bulls matches or at the ice rink.

It may sound like bribery, getting the youngsters to do something positive and steering them away potential crimes.

But the rewards are just seen as a bonus by the youngsters. They actually enjoy doing the work.

Imran Hafeez, 15, was among the teenagers who took over an abandoned allotment where they grew vegetables which they sold to raise cash for charity.

He has also been involved in other projects because he feels it changes people's perceptions of young people.

"An old chap who lived nearby didn't think much of us," said Imran. "You could tell by the way he looked at us and spoke to us that he thought we were up to no good.

"Then he found out what we were doing and started to help us.

"The scheme is helping change people's perceptions of young people in the community."

Matthew Butler, 15, of Heaton, has also been involved in the scheme and sees it as a stepping stone to creating relationships with other sections of the community.

He said: "We are seen doing something good and it shows that we can do something good. It helps break down barriers between us and older people."

PC Illingworth has worked hard in forging a better relationship between youngsters, the police and local residents. If young people have nowhere to go and meet with him, he will talk them on the street corners where they hang about.

One of his ideas is to get young people to write what they believe older people think about them. Most of the responses are unprintable, but the main gist is that many older people seem to think youngsters hanging about are thieves, drug-takers and generally up to no good.

PC Illingworth said: "The aim is to enhance links between police and young people, as well as getting them away from crime.

"Older people have a negative perception of young people. For them to see young people out in the streets doing things that benefit the community is great. The police are now far more focused on young people and the needs of young people.

"We bring them round to the police station and show them round. The aim is to let them know that we are approachable."

The aim of Work to Play is not only to improve the relationship between young people and the community, but also to improve links between the police and youngsters.

Val Bradbury is the warden at Shuttleworth House, Thornton Road, Four Lane Ends. The residents there were overjoyed at the work the children put in to improve their area.

"Everyone here was delighted," she said. "They did a smashing job - we have been waiting for months to get the place tidied up.

"We have problems here with children causing vandalism. But these youngsters were super. All the residents were impressed. They were even taking them out drinks, crisps and biscuits."

It might only go a small way, but it highlights the fact that a group of children hanging around and looking suspicious is not necessarily going to cause a problem.

Of course, many youngsters do cause problems and their excuse is they have nothing to do, nowhere to go.

But the Work to Play scheme does offer an outlet for them to put something positive back into the community. And it's working.

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