A NEW councillor for Church Langley has praised the efforts of two Passmores Academy students for their litter clearing efforts.

Councillor Nicky Purse has written a litter to Executive Head Vic Goddard and allowed us to publish it.

Dear Mr Goddard / Your Harlow 

I would like to bring to your attention the brilliant work of two of your students – Josh Sanderson and Imi Hainsworth. Since 2019 Josh and Imi have been giving up their Sundays to work in the community and I can’t speak highly enough of their work. They have both been out litter picking collecting tonnes of rubbish to improve the area we all live in.

Too many people say kids are anti-social, causing trouble in Harlow. In this case, it is certainly not true for these two amazing students. They have also helped in our community with events at both Christmas and Easter. Josh is a very talented wood worker and helped make many of the Christmas displays over the past 3 years. 

Unfortunately, over many years, we have seen less and less youth groups across our town. This is a UK wide problem and when youth groups/clubs do start up the teenagers are mistrusting of the adults. We need to change this.

We wonder why this may be the case, but we let our children down so many times when we are quick to blame them for all the antisocial behaviour across the town. I think back to when I was their age when we had the play scheme’s across the town. We talk about kids just sitting in their bedroom playing games, but I do wonder why what is there for them to do.

This is why when we find young adults like Josh and Imi we need to praise and reward them.

Not all children are academic and some children will benefit from groups and clubs like brownies, guides and scouts. I myself was in the Girls Brigade and benefitted from the group activities and the discipline.

I hope you will share my praise for Josh and Imi they are a credit to the school community and their parents. 

Cllr Nicky Purse