St James Church School Young Leaders Secure Promises for Safer Parks in Taunton

St James Church School Young Leaders Secure Promises for Safer Parks in Taunton

Young leaders from St James Church School have been making waves in their community, taking action to make their local park safer for children and families. Following listening sessions in their Year 5 classes, students identified park safety as their top priority and set out to make real change.

The students focused on the underpass that connects their housing estate to school, highlighting key concerns:

• Broken lights making the underpass dark and unsafe
• A lack of CCTV, meaning crimes go unpunished
• The inability to see who is on the other side of the underpass
• Dangerous litter, including glass and needles

Through a power analysis, the children identified Taunton Town Council Leader, Cllr Tom Deakin, as the decision-maker who could help. They invited him, alongside the Mayor, local councillors, and the Police, to a neighbourhood walk in the park. Supported by Citizens Somerset members—including the Methodist Circuit, the Quakers, and the Taunton URC—plus local groups like Victoria Park Action Group and Street Pastors, the children made their voices heard.

At a formal meeting, co-chaired by the young leaders, they presented their case and secured a firm ‘yes’ from Cllr Deakin on all four of their asks: CCTV, improved lighting, mirrors for visibility, and regular glass and needle sweeps.

Six months later, the students held him to account, awarding him 10/10 for delivering regular glass and needle sweeps, but just 3/10 for progress on CCTV, lighting, and mirrors—though he promised an update soon.

Beyond Taunton, St James Church School young leaders joined peers from Lyngford Park Primary, Wellington School, Cabot Learning Federation schools and colleges, together with Citizens Somerset faith members and the Bristol Diocese to hold the Avon & Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner candidates to account. They shared their stories and secured commitments to improve reporting times and strengthen the relationship between young people and the police.

The young leaders also met their MP, Gideon Amos, discussing their ongoing campaign for safer parks and securing his support for the Citizens UK Living Wage for Social Care Campaign.

These young leaders are proving that when communities come together, real change happens. St James Church School pupils are not just learning about democracy—they’re shaping it.