Eco-Schools host biggest show yet!
24 June 2009
Young people committed to making their school eco friendly, have gathered today at the Stoneleigh Exhibition Centre, Coventry to showcase their work at the biggest Eco-Schools show yet.
This year will see exciting new features including a giant map of Great Britain, filled with the students’ plasticine foot pledges as well as the launch of the new Eco Heroes Awards.
As a new feature to the show, the awards will recognise those who have gone the extra mile to support young people via Eco-Schools, and the five winners will receive a unique recycled glass award engraved with their name as a lasting memory of their commitment to the programme.
Over 50% of England’s schools, more than 12,000 in total, are signed up to the Eco-Schools Award programme, which supports the government’s aim to make every school sustainable by 2020, and provides a framework to help students to lead the way and achieve this.
The show, which will host over 2,000 young people, gives them the chance to learn new and innovative ways to make their school more sustainable and helps them to progress their school through the programme’s award structure from Bronze to the highly sought after Green Flag.
Sponsored by EDF Energy’s online resource ‘The Pod’ (www.jointhepod.org), the show will give visitors the opportunity to attend interactive workshops, browse the latest green products in the exhibition area as well as quiz the eco experts with their dilemmas on how to tackle a green problem in their school.
Phil Barton chief executive, Keep Britain Tidy said: “The growth of the Eco-Schools programme is a fantastic success story and it’s because young people feel so passionate about making a difference, and are willing to put in the hard work to make it happen with active support from dedicated teachers, governors and parents.”
Peter Thorn, Head of Business Development Strategy from EDF Energy said: “The show is a brilliant forum for the young people to pick up new eco tips, from The Pod, as well as the many other resources at hand that are leading the way in sustainable methods.”
Jan Eriksen, President of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) said: “The size of the show this year shows how much the programme has grown in England and captured the imagination of the young people who have led the way in developing and strengthening the programme.”
There will also be a presentation hall, compared by ‘Busta’ the blue monkey who is back by popular demand, where the Eco Heroes will be presented with their award by the show’s key speakers, Phil Barton chief executive, Keep Britain Tidy and Jan Eriksen, International President of FEE, which supports 27,000 Eco-Schools in 46 countries around the world.
To find out more about the awards and the other fun activities that will be available in the all new activity room visit the website