The city school giving back to its community
Ezekiel was one of the pupils helping out at Leicester's Victoria Park
- Published
Children at a Leicestershire school have been giving back to their community through initiatives including litter picking and care home visits.
The group from Millgate School, a special school in Leicester, visited 18 locations as part of a "give back day", pitching in with a variety of tasks and meeting new people.
All the students, aged between eight and 16, were involved in the day, which gave them opportunities to meet different people, develop confidence, and interact in social situations.
Homeless charity One Roof Leicester, Age UK, and the LOROS hospice were among those involved.
Millgate pupils helped out at one of seven care homes across Leicester
Amy Large, assistant SENCO (special education needs co-ordinator) and curriculum lead for maths and science, said: "All of our students have special needs, and some have trouble in certain social situations.
"This day gives them the opportunity to meet different people so they can grow into adults who can make a contribution to society."
Ezekiel, 14, chose litter picking as his activity for the day and said: "I feel like it helps the community and the world in general, and yes, it's time-consuming but it takes my brain off stuff."
It is not his first time volunteering, as he is also responsible for helping tidy up around the school.
On litter picking, he said: "It won't change the world in itself but I feel like I'm helping."
Max, aged 13, vacuumed St John the Baptist Church in Leicester
One of the aims of the initiative was to develop pupil confidence and allow them to interact in social situations out in the wider world.
The "give back day" idea began in December. Now, the school hopes to continue the engagement with local groups and organisations by holding one such event each term.
As well as litter picking, children helped clean local community centres, visited seven care homes in Leicester, and "shared some of the Millgate love", in the words of Ms Large.
"It's a juggle logistically," she said. "But we love the feeling that we all come away with at the end of the day."
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