WNWhL Cobden champion climate change

Published by Alasdair Burns for West North West Homes Leeds in Housing and also in Communities, Education, Environment

The culmination of West North West homes Leeds Carbon Action Team project was a celebration event held at Leeds University Business School.  Year six pupils from Cobden Primary were declared the 2011 Carbon Action Champions after delivering their presentation which included collages, posters, poems and a novelty slant on Old Macdonald to save the planet by converting to Eco Donald.  The other schools that took part in the project and also delivered excellent presentations were Bramley Primary, Hawksworth Wood Primary and Little London Primary.

The project was delivered in the schools with West North West homes Leeds’ contractor Morrison, as well as Frank Haslam Milan and Kier during this academic year.  Pupils learnt about the changes they can make to reduce their carbon footprint.  They considered the impact of global warming and climate change, the sustainability of eco towns, energy saving devices in the home and built models of eco schools during a series of group activities.

It was apparent, during the final school presentations, that the pupils had learnt a lot about saving and protecting the environment.  Judging the winner, a really difficult task, was undertaken by Morrison’s Environment and Sustainability Manager, Rob McAuliffe, Nesreen Lowson, Head of Property Investment, West North West homes Leeds, and Keith Collridge, Vice Chair of West North West homes Leeds’ Board. Frank the Builder, at the last minute, replaced Frank Haslam Milan’s Community Liaison Officer,  much to the amusement of the audience. 

Nesreen Lowson said, on announcing the winner, “Choosing the champion was an extremely difficult task as all four schools gave excellent presentations.  Only a few points differentiate the schools and it is apparent that everyone has learned from the project.  Well done to everyone.”

Year six from Cobden Primary, the outright winner, was presented with the 2011 Carbon Action Champion trophy made from recycled plastic bottles and £500 worth of energy saving devices for the school donated by Morrison.

Rob McAuliffe, Environment and Sustainability Manager, Morrison, said: “As West North West homes Leeds’ new repairs partner, we were very pleased to be asked to get involved in this innovative project.  Morrison is committed to improving the local environment and this project offered us a great opportunity to teach young children about sustainability and how they can play a part in making their local environment greener.  By getting children involved and thinking about the environment early we hope they will be able to use this knowledge as they grow up.”

Claire Warren, Chief Executive, West North West homes Leeds, commented, “Working with local children is a privilege and an excellent way to engage in our local communities,  Hopefully, the lessons learnt on saving energy and reducing our carbon footprints will be transferred to the home and our customers may benefit, in these difficult economic times, from reduced fuel bills in the future.”