Pontefract Civic Society and young people
We share the belief that the places in which we live and work can be greatly improved by the commitment and determination of its citizens and this starts with our young people. By promoting civic pride and facilitating community engagement, we hope to improve our public spaces, celebrate our rich historic past and promote Pontefract as a place to live, visit and work.
Junior Civic Society launched
Working with schools was put to our board towards the end of 2015, starting with a pilot through Carleton Park Junior & Infant School in January, 2016, which has remained involved in a number of ways:
- creating posters for litter campaigns, and the Tour de Yorkshire
- judging shop window displays
- writing articles for our newsletter, Pontefract Voice
- A significant activity was to research the Magna Carta, which pupils then presented in their words at the unveiling ceremony
- Pupils gave us feedback via their own survey which offered their views on Pontefract, its attractions and events
- Planted daffodil bulbs at school which the civic society donated
During 2019, St Giles CofE Academy joined our Junior Civic Society getting involved in the Keep Britain Tidy litter pick, Tour de Yorkshire VIP visit presenting the school choir, and we led Blue Plaque guided walks, and Heritage Open Days Town Hall talk & tour.
Junior Civic Society members
- Carleton Park Junior & Infant School
- St Giles CofE Academy
- Larks Hill Junior & Infants
- Halfpenny Lane Junior, Infant & Nursery School
- The Rookeries Junior, Infant & Nursery School
- De Lacy Primary School
- Orchard Head Junior, Infant & Nursery School
- The King’s School
- Carleton High School
- Cherry Tree Academy
- Holy Family & St Michael’s School
- Northfield Primary School, South Kirkby
Beyond the above, we also pleased to have the following establishments as business members:
- Ackworth School
- New College Pontefract
- Pontefract Academies Trust
Anti Litter Campaign Awards 2026
Our 2026 Award for the Anti Litter campaign involved a number of junior schools having a competition within their school to create their best poster and then offering it to us for judging against the other schools. Certificates and Trophies were presented to the winning entries.
