Red-Nosed Community Kids Bowled Over For Charity

Well-behaved youngsters from a Middlesbrough school will be taking to the alleys on Friday in a bid to boost charity cash. But these children won’t be loitering in the back streets of the town – they’ll be hoping to bowl a strike to raise money on Red Nose Day.

Around 30 youngsters from year six at North Ormesby Primary School will be hitting Hollywood Bowl at Teesside Park as part of the Community Kids project, funded by Erimus Housing and Middlesbrough Children’s Fund.

The day is being held as a reward for the pupils after taking part in the scheme, which aims to teach children from years five and six about citizenship.

But to give the day an added twist, the youngsters will be dressing the part and hoping for sponsorship to boost the coffers of Comic Relief.

David Foster, Community Kids project manager, said: “It is a reward for completing the course so we do not take children who have messed around or who have been in trouble on an evening.

“Because it is Red Nose Day we thought we would get the children to do it as a sponsored bowling event.”

A total of 29 schools have so far taken part in the ten-session project, which has cost £32,000 to run this year.

Children are encouraged to use role plays, write poems, draw posters and even watch videos to teach them about issues including anti-social behaviour, racism, graffiti and bullying.

They are then asked to make a pledge, which is made into a certificate to mark the end of the course, when family members are invited to see their work.

Mr Foster added: “We teach them that it is their responsibility to make sure Middlesbrough stays a decent place.

“We point out to them the consequences anti-social behaviour has on the community so they can make the difference.”

Teacher Sarah Murton from North Ormesby Primary School, added: “It has been really good and beneficial for the children. They have enjoyed it.

“A lot of the children see these problems going on around them but it is how to deal with it.

“This gives them the opportunity to talk about it and do role plays and it is great that their parents can come in at the end and see what they have done.”