This award, sponsored by The Broadway, is for schools that have created a strong link with their local community

Saltaire Primary and Hirst Wood Regeneration Group

SALTAIRE Primary School’s work to improve a local beauty spot led to it making the shortlist in this category.
The school has worked with the Hirst Wood Regeneration Group to rejuvenate the the Hirst Wood Nature Area.
In the autumn of 2014 Pauline Bradley-Sharpe, the group’s secretary, visited the school to let pupils know what the group was doing and the vision she had for the piece of land. The area has become a wildlife haven complete with paths, a dipping pond, minibeast hotel and bird viewing area.
Head teacher Sally Stoker said: “Most weeks you will find our children are down in the area. Whether it’s our Eco Club exploring Japanese symmetrical petal designs after school, or our Year 4 children tadpole tipping after closely observing life cycles, we can’t imagine what it was like before the Hirst Wood Nature Area.
“By taking learning outdoors into the Hirst Wood Nature Area, children have been free to explore using their natural curiosity. We have discovered that, very often, by taking children outdoors and putting them in a different environment, they can become much more confident.”
Mrs Bradley-Sharpe said: “We said to Sally ‘this is what we’ve got, would you like to be involved? She said yes, and we’ve never looked back.” 

Bingley Grammar School - Fundraising for BRI

A PARTNERSHIP between Bingley Grammar School and Bradford Royal Infirmary, which has raised £8,000 for the hospital, led to the school being nominated for the Community Involvement Award.
The partnership started in 2014, when Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust paediatrician Simon Frazer spoke about BRI’s new £28 million hospital wing with staff at a school transition event.
He talked about how it was important young people felt at home in hospital. 
It was decided to support the funding of enhancements for the Paediatric Unit by raising money through the Year 7 annual sponsored walk. 
Since then, students have raised over £8,000 through sponsored walks and contributed to the design of the Adolescent room in the new ward through interior design workshops involving 40 students from Years 7-12 with Gilling Dod Architects.
Dr Frazer said: “Once again, the support of Bingley Grammar School is outstanding and the children and staff should be really proud of their efforts.
“The funds raised from the walks will be used to enhance the new children’s wards, ensuring each bed station is as homely as possible.”

Dixons City Academy - Syrian Action Team

THE Dixons City Academy Syrian Action Team was set up by pupils in the school’s Sixth Form with help from teachers.
They had been moved by the events they had seen in the media and had wanted to make a positive contribution to the Syrians who were being resettled in Bradford, including some at the school.
The group raised over £1,500 and gained the support of many local businesses. They organised a huge collection of clothes, toys and household items, and worked with Horton Housing to make contact with the newly arrived refugees. They invited over 100 Syrians to a welcome party at the academy along with a number of local dignitaries. On the night the team provided gifts and entertainment for every family and child.
It led to a second evening that was equally well attended, and the students were able to spend more time getting to know the families.
The team was nominated by staff member Sadeia Afzal, who said: “They were determined from the start and used their initiative and worked so hard towards both events all in their free time. What the group achieved in such a short period of time was very impressive and the involvement for the students will have a positive impact on them for the rest of their lives.”