Gloucester's Central Technology College and Barnwood High School For Girls had never seen anything like it. On Wednesday April 2 scores of excited youngsters were crowding through the school gates HOURS before lessons were due to start! The breakfast club at Central was doing a roaring trade in bacon and sausage butties, but they weren't the only things on the menu on this very special morning. The big attraction was the chance to see a BBC radio show being broadcast live from their school - and maybe even star on the telly, too! Vernon Harwood and the rest of the BBC Radio Gloucestershire Breakfast Show team visited both Barnwood Park and Central Technology College to celebrate the official launch of the Voices of Gloucester campaign - or what he described as "a cross between Jim'll Fix It and a wish list".  | | Not just here for the breakfast: Enid Cole and Martin Shonk with Central students |
They were joined by representatives of many BBC Gloucestershire's partners in the Voices project - organisations that share our vision of helping local people breath new life into two city areas. The aim is to help forger closer links between both schools, their staff and students, and the communities they serve through a series of improvements both inside the schools and in their surrounding neighbourhoods - Saintbridge, Barnwood, Podsmead, Abbeymead and Matson. The Voices partners include: - Gloucestershire County Council's education and highways departments
- Gloucester City Council
- Old Centralians - the old boys association at CTC
- Young Gloucestershire - the county's youth and community service
- The University of Gloucestershire
- Gloucestershire Scouts
- The Friendship Cafe
- Gymnation >>read more about Gymnation
Anything that gets everybody involved so that young people benefit from the experience is just fantastic. | | Enid Cole, Central Technology College |
Enid Cole, acting head of CTC, was asked what she thought was special about linking up the BBC and the two schools for this ambitious community project that aims to foster local pride in the area. She said: "I firmly believe that education is a darned sight more than schools - we are all involved in it, parents, community, and schools. "Anything that gets everybody involved so that young people benefit from the experience is just fantastic."  | | Candid camera: the Voices project will also feature on BBC television |
Central has not always had the best press and staff are keen to forge new links with the local area to overcome that negative reputation. Voices will help that process. Martin Shonk, the school's pastoral director, said: "Voices is going to take us into the community and that is something we need as a college. "Because there is a history and people don't know what we are really about here, this is the way forward for us." Central boys told BBC Radio Gloucestershire listeners they changes they want to see: - 'I really want to see some of the classrooms improved'
- 'I want to see the quadrangle finished - I am looking forward to coming in here to sit and read books'
- 'I want to see the stage done up so we can put on performances'
- 'More waste bins because there is too much litter round here'
The girls at Barnwood Park are excited about the possibilities of Voices too: - We've thought about improving the churchyard at Barnwood church because it is a bit grotty, and trips taking out the elderly, and clearing up local communities'
- 'We want a common room for the Year 10s'
- 'We want to tidy up an area of Abbeymead because it is a bit messy at the moment'
- 'We don't think there are enough safe cycle routes around the school'
We've thought about improving the churchyard at Barnwood church because it is a bit grotty, and trips taking out the elderly, and clearing up local communities. | | Girls from Barnwood Park School |
Simon Williams, Voices producer for BBC Radio Gloucestershire, explained: 'It's not about money, it's about people being enthusiastic and proud about where they live and wanting to effect change to make it better. My job is to be the catalyst." There will be a meeting where interested parents can find out more at Central Technology College on April 10. If you would like to be involved or just share your ideas on what improvements you would like to see around Gloucester fill in the form below or contact Simon Williams by phone on 01452 308585 or email simon.williams.01@bbc.co.uk  | | Ground force: transforming this neglected quadrangle is just one of the improvements planned at Central Technology College |
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