Pupils from Whitechapel’s London Islamic School have won a City Hall award for “environment safety and security” in the community.

They have been focusing on energy and safety in school and in the Whitechapel neighbourhood.

One project was being recruited last year to help Tower Hamlets council’s anti-litter campaign along Whitechapel Road and running other schemes to make community life safer.

“Volunteers like these are an unstoppable force,” deputy London Mayor for Education Joanne McCartney said. “The work they do is inspiring, breaking down barriers and bringing communities together while giving people the chance to improve their skills.”

The pupils started youth assemblies, a coffee morning with parents to introduce a ‘pledge’ wall, ‘walking zone’ maps to encourage more journeys on foot and a ‘travel buddy’ scheme for getting to and from school safely and responsibly.

Dame Barbara Windsor and designer Wayne Hemingway presented the ‘Team London’ awards at City Hall last night to volunteers from all over London who work to improve community life.

Steve Crook, a volunteer with the Hoxton Trust in Shoreditch, was another award winner for ‘environment and healthy living’ who has been looking after the Hoxton community garden for eight years.