Year 10 students spent the day working with organisations in Otley. Students worked on community projects with 15 different organisations across Otley, Pool and Bramhope. They helped Leeds City Council Park Rangers on the Chevin, Otley Parish Church, the Bridge Church, Otley Courthouse, Spring Gardens Care Home, Wildlife Friendly Otley, Otley & District Talking Newspaper, Otley Action for Older People and in all the local primary schools.

Tasks included balsam bashing, gardening, maintenance, watering and weed pulling in Wharfemeadows Park, reading with pupils, attending Lunch and Art Club and creating flowerpot scarecrows!

Nic Shipp, from Wildlife Friendly Otley, who took students to work in Wharfemeadows Park said “It was a delight to work with your students today. This morning’s group worked really diligently and dealt with the bindweed problem in Wharfemeadows Park most effectively, clearing the vast majority of the bindweed from an area from the bridge gates to the skateboard park, no mean feat in two hours.

The afternoon group left the flowerbeds very well watered (despite the promised thunderstorm, which never actually materialized), took health and safety in a public space very seriously and managed all this without unduly watering themselves!

A good day, with a lovely contribution from Year 10 from Prince Henry’s.  I hope we’ll be able to offer an activity in the future.”

Meanwhile, John Eveleigh of the Bridge Church said “We very much enjoyed having the students - they were certainly very productive and creative. Once again, this year, we are having a scarecrow display in the church grounds and the students work will feature in that display. We found the students to be exceptionally polite, and it was a really positive experience for us, and hope it was for them too!”

In school, Year 10 students worked with Otley 2030 to consider what young people can do to make Otley a greener place.

Other students in school hosted visitors from across the community.

Poet Simone Yasmin returned to lead Year 8 in ‘Let’s Talk About Race’, talking frankly about her experiences. Just Like Us, the LGBT+ Young People charity led sessions with Year 9.

Year 7 learned about WaterAid and experienced the difficulties faced by people who have to carry water from the well to their homes, taking part in a WaterAid obstacle course. They also worked with Schools of Sanctuary to learn about being a refugee.

 “Our links with the community are very important to us and we always try to impress on our students that global citizenship, in all its guises, begins with how we lead our lives each and every day. We are extremely grateful to all the organisations who worked with us and our students on the day.” said Christopher Lillington, Assistant Headteacher, who organised the day.