Junior Community Team (JCT)
What is JCT?
The Junior Community Team (JCT) is a scheme run by Hampshire County Council’s Accredited Community Safety Officers (ACSOs).
JCT is designed to provide constructive activities for local young people that benefit the community whilst encouraging a sense of civic responsibility amongst the 10-11 year-old age group.
The scheme is to be rolled out in selected junior schools across the county.
Background
JCT was launched as a pilot in Gosport in May 2007 with 15 children from year 6 at Rowner Junior School.
The school have kindly agreed that the team can use the school as a base. The feedback from partners, parents and the children from the pilot project was outstanding and has resulted in the continuation and forthcoming expansion of the scheme across the county.
The aim is to improve the physical environment, bridge the generation gap, promote citizenship and to tackle juvenile nuisance and anti social behaviour by encouraging young people to develop a sense of community pride in their neighbourhood and to become responsible citizens.
The Junior Community Team sessions are held three times per month on a Tuesday for two hours after school. There are also sessions in the school holidays and sometimes at weekends. The children work along side the ACSO and ACSO apprentices to help improve their local area. So far the children have taken part in sessions which include; learning about the environment, litter picks, baking cakes for the elderly, car washing for the community and much, much more. It has been seen that by engaging with young people and by encouraging and rewarding them, it educates the group about the negative effects of juvenile nuisance and the value of making their community a nicer place to live.
As well as contributing to a cleaner and safer environment the JCT also enables the children and young people participating to meet new friends, develop new skills and ultimately have fun.
JCT Logo/Uniform
The Junior Community Team logo was designed by a member of the Junior Community Team pilot project at Rowner Junior School in May 2007.
The logo is incorporated onto the JCT uniform and also included on the t-shirt is the sleeve design. The sleeve design is unique to each area within the county.
The JCT uniform is issued to all members at the beginning of the scheme and is worn at all sessions. The uniform includes a Junior Community Team baseball cap, a polo t-shirt, a fleece and a high visibility vest.
Contact Information
For further information about the Junior Community Team (JCT) please contact:
Sophie Davis - Junior Community Team Co-ordinator
Telephone: 07793 759056
Email: community.safety@hants.gov.uk
Or speak to the ACSO's when they are out and about in the neighbourhood.
PLEASE NOTE: JCT is only available, at present, to year 6 pupils attending Rowner Junior School, Gosport
