PUPILS, staff and parents at a school will be ready to mark Remembrance Day and the centenary of the First World War with a special plaque taking pride of place thanks to the efforts of a team of young people on a Prince’s Trust programme.

The plaque was given to Archibald Primary School in Middlesbrough as part of a project but the area and pathway around it had become overgrown and the plaque had almost disappeared.

Now, with help from a six-strong Prince’s Trust team of young people from Middlesbrough and Hartlepool and £1,000 provided by UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary, the school has a special place to mark this Remembrance Day and many more in the future.

Steve Cowgill, deputy head at the school which has more than 500 pupils aged from two to 11, said: “We are delighted and grateful that the Prince’s Trust team and UK Steel Enterprise have helped turn this into a special area for us.

"It will always play a part in our Remembrance Assemblies now as well as contributing to our history teaching and, as the area is opposite our main entrance, pupils, parents and staff will pass it every day.”

The Prince’s Trust Team Programmes run by Stockton Riverside College help young people into employment with work experience, preparation for interviews, building skills from communication and budgeting to teamwork and a community project.

The team successfully presented the plans for their chosen project at the school to a business panel from UK Steel Enterprise and secured the funding for equipment and materials.

They are also improving access to a play area and tidying an eco-greenhouse on the site.

Alex Wade and Adam Birch from Hartlepool, Raheem Hussain, Joseph Bruce, Michael May and Jennah Younis from Middlesbrough, all aged between 16 and 22, rolled up their sleeves to clear the plaque area and UK Steel Enterprise was happy to provide sufficient funds to purchase a bench and table as well.

Diane Parker of UK Steel Enterprise said: “This is such an appropriate project for the team to choose when it is the centenary of WW1.

"UK Steel Enterprise has now helped to fund 50 Prince’s Trust Team Programmes from our Community Support Fund.

"They not only help unemployed young people in our steel areas into work but contribute to community life as well with great projects like this one.”

Martin Copley, Prince’s Trust Team Leader at Stockton Riverside College, said: “I always enjoy working with the teams on their community project but this one has special meaning for me as I spent 25 years in the Green Howards regiment.

"It is good to know that the work we’ve done will help present and future pupils learn about the First World War.”