Green Minded Pupils Net Fab Prizes

Published by Michael Ord for South Tyneside Homes in Housing and also in Communities

Green Minded Pupils Net Fab Prizes

Talented Years 5 and 6 pupils at Sea View Primary School, South Shields, have won some fabulous prizes for designing environmentally-themed posters thanks to a contest promoted by South Tyneside Homes.

The company is currently running Decent Homes improvement programmes in Horsley Hill and Lincoln Road areas, and had approached the school with the idea of having the children design posters showing green awareness.

Partner contractors Esh Property Services and Keepmoat who are delivering the works and Delta 1 Security who are providing site security, generously donated prizes for the winning entrants. Esh provided an X-Box 360, Keepmoat donated two excellent Nikon cameras and Delta 1 gave two Trax bikes.

The prize giving ceremony was held at school assembly on Friday 20th July, with representatives from all the companies there to present the delighted youngsters from years 5 and 6. Dave Cutting, Head of Asset Management from South Tyneside Homes told the assembly that it’s been no easy task to judge the entries given their very high calibre.

Headteacher Jane Cunningham said, “We pride ourselves on being part of the community and this all fits in nicely with our Silver Eco-Project, raising the children’s awareness of environmental issues. We are amazed and thrilled at these prizes. “

It was well done to 1st Prize winners Richard Grant and Amy Van Es (Year 6) who won a bicycle each, and 2nd Prize winners (Year 5) Olivia Mullen and Caitlin Buddy who won a camera each. The school itself will benefit from the X Box 360 for educational usage.

Chris Parker, Contracts Manager for Esh Property Services who is overseeing work on site said, “This competition has been brilliant – it’s really captured the children’s imagination and has a been a great way to get them thinking about the environment and Health and Safety in a fun way that has practical meaning in their lives.  At Esh Property services we’re passionate about helping people of all ages learn more and develop their understanding. Hopefully many parents and friends of the pupils will have learnt more too.”

A spokesperson for Keepmoat said, “A big well done to Sea View Primary School for their efforts in producing some fantastic posters. It is both refreshing and encouraging to see that children understand and appreciate the importance of looking after the environment. This message came across very clearly in all of the posters.”

Val and Paul, Directors of Delta One Security Services, were delighted to donate two bicycles as prizes for the competition winners.  Alan Gibson and Frank Duke, stated, “It was a pleasure to present the prizes to the successful candidates.”  We would like to thank the staff and pupils at Sea View school for their warm and enthusiastic reception and congratulate all pupils who entered the competition which was of a very high standard.”

The Decent Homes modernisations to non traditional homes in Horsley Hill and Lincoln Road areas are helping to improve the thermal efficiency of the properties, making them more energy efficient and benefiting their carbon footprint. South Tyneside Homes has promised to display the array of poster images at the works compound and to invite the pupils to visit the site at Marsden Lane. 

Mark Whittle, Director of Investment for South Tyneside Homes, says, “As a considerate constructor contractor we were delighted to hold this competition with the school, which is located near to the places where we are carrying out our ambitious non-trads programme. The children showed real flair in their designs and are clearly very environmentally conscious.  We congratulate them all.  “

Notes to the Editor.
The Project.
The National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) is working in collaboration with South Tyneside Homes and Homes for Northumberland to make energy-efficiency housing improvements in over 300 socially-rented hard-to-treat properties.

The total value of the investment which includes ERDF and match funding provided by South Tyneside Council and Homes for Northumberland is £3.83m. The ERDF funding received was to install low-carbon and renewable energy technologies and systems into selected properties, helping to improve the housing stock in the region and regenerate off-gas or non-traditional construction properties. The impacts of the interventions are also being monitored and analysed as part of the project.

ERDF Funding.
Narec has formed a consortium with South Tyneside Homes and Homes for Northumberland to deliver this project. The Project will benefit from £1.9m of investment from the European Regional Development fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
SSE.
There is also part-funding provided by SSE.