MORE than 70 students from schools across the ContinU Trust of Wyre Forest have signed up as ‘Community Ambassadors’ in the second year of a local citizenship programme.

The 77 enthusiastic year nine students from eight schools across the area have agreed to undertake a year of events and programmes, starting in September, to share positive messages with their peers in school and the wider community about safety, citizenship, wellbeing and health.

The schools involved in the programme include Baxter College, the Bewdley School, ContinU Plus Academy, King Charles I School, Stourport High School and Wolverley C of E Secondary School.

In order to prepare for their new role the students spent the day at Wyre Forest House where they were trained in research, presentation and interpersonal skills. The role involves delivering assemblies, presentations and information to their peers around issues like personal safety, anti-bullying, healthy relationships and tackling crime.

The training was delivered by Karen Evans, of Vestia Community Training, and focused on how to present ideas clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences.

She said: “All the participants really got involved; they quickly overcame their nerves and worked really well together.”

The programme, funded by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, is jointly managed by the ContinU Trust and Safer Wyre Forest, which promotes safer living, working and visiting in Wyre Forest.

Michael Conroy Harris, collaboration coordinator for the ContinU Trust, said: “It is great to see the growth of the Community Ambassador programme.

“The students are keen, bright and understand that they can make a difference. That is really important.”