Hackney school pupils aim to make Hackney streets safer

Hackney pupils took part in a safety conference last Friday where they had the opportunity to present their ideas on how to improve safety for children in the area to London Assembly Member for Hackney Jennette Arnold and members of Hackney Council.

The conference, which was organised by the Jimmy Mizen Foundation, involved six schools from Hackney including Springfield Community School in Castlewood Road, Stoke Newington; St John the Baptist Primary School in Crondall Street, Hoxton; Holy Trinity Primary School in Beechwood Road, Hackney; St Monicas Primary School in Hoxton Square, Hoxton; St John and St James Primary School in Isabella Road, Hackney; and St Matthias Primary School in Wordsworth Road, Stoke Newington.

Two members from each school (and four from Springfield Community School) presented their ideas on what the main safety issues in their area were to other schools, Jennette Arnold Hackney Council sustainable transport managers Maryann Allen and Rob Sambrooks. The event was held at Springfield Community School.

Pupils identified issues including road safety, parking on double-yellow lines, bullying, walking home from school and theft.

Sarah Jarman, project manager at The Jimmy Mizen Foundation, said: “The schools were really engaged, They’ve gone back with lots of ideas and are thinking of projects the council are doing to get involved with. They’re looking forward to the next conference!”

The Jimmy Mizen Foundation was set up by Barry and Margaret Mizen whose 16-year-old son Jimmy was murdered in Lewisham. One of the aims of the foundation is to improve safety for young people. Similar conferences have been held in other boroughs in London including Tower Hamlets and Lambeth.