Glitter Gang beat the opposition

A GROUP of youngsters from a Warrington high school have come up with a scheme to provide entertainment and links with elderly residents as part the HOPE 08 campaign.
A team of Year Nine learners from Birchwood High School, known as “the Glitter Gang”, beat of competition from six other groups from their year to win an all expenses paid trip to Blackpool and the chance to compete at the final of the HOPE 08 Challenge in November.
A wave system was also created by the victors, which involves elderly residents waving to student in passing, as a way of communication to confirm they had no problems.
HOPE 08 is an initiative of the churches of Britain and Ireland which is helping to demonstrate Christian faith in action and to explain the meaning of that faith in villages, towns and cities throughout the UK.
The judging panel, comprising of the High Sheriff of Cheshire, Alistair Stoddart, deputy Mayor Brian Axcell, Birchwood High headteacher Ann Bright and co-ordinator for Crimebeat, Frank Harding, selected the winning team during the school’s curriculum project week.
Each team was set the challenge of creating a meaningful and lasting project that would benefit elements of the community.
They were supported in their quest by school governor Phil Gleave and his colleague Bob Collier, Thomas Risley Church, Birchwood Evangelical Church, and youth volunteers.
Head of Year Nine Chris Burrows said: “The Hope 08 Challenge has been very hard work for the learners but they have shown resilience and resourcefulness in the way that they have tackled the task. It has been a great opportunity for them to engage with, and make a difference to their community and I am very proud of all their efforts.”
Picture shows students with the some of the judging panel.