THIS award recognises work that links schools with the wider community.
This could mean schools opening up to community groups, offering classes for parents, working to improve the surrounding area or fundraising for a local cause.
It could also be for outside groups who use school facilities to offer important services to the wider community or the school.
Schools are an integral part of their communities, where they draw their students from.
But some schools go beyond this, seeking to become an active part of day-to-day community life. Do schools regularly hold litter-picks to improve their areas? Do children visit elderly residents, or arrange collections for their local food bank? Do they work with police for speed watches or awareness campaigns?
The more a school interacts with its community, the happier the relationship between the community and school.
The “toast ladies” of Thornbury Primary School won the 2016 award. Made up of Arosa Mukthar, Abbey Adetona, Jasminder Kaur, Farzana Hussain, Michelle Kettlewell and Hajra Jabeen, the ladies are a group of parents who attend school early every Friday morning to make and sell toast to children during break time.
The money raised is then used by the school to buy much-needed equipment for the children.
LAST YEAR'S WINNERS: The “toast ladies” of Thornbury Primary School
AWARD SPONSOR: THE BROADWAY
Since opening in November 2015 The Broadway Shopping Centre has quickly established itself as one of Yorkshire’s premier shopping destinations.
Located within the heart of Bradford city centre, The Broadway counts more than 70 shops and eateries amongst its line-up, including leading household names such as Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and H&M.
Easily accessible by car, bus, rail or on foot, The Broadway’s location sees it acting as a key part of Bradford city centre – linking the historic Little Germany area and Bradford’s outstanding Cathedral Quarter with the rest of Bradford city centre.
Plans are already afoot to build on the success of The Broadway, which saw over a quarter of a million shoppers visit across its first four days of trading, with work having recently started on a cinema and restaurant extension of the centre.
The centre is delighted to be sponsoring the Community Involvement award at this year’s Schools Awards.
MORE FROM THE SCHOOLS AWARDS 2017
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