Children from schools across the city gathered together on Thursday 23rd May 2019 to share and celebrate their green innovations and environmental successes as part of the charity PECT’s Eco Awards.
The day marked the 10th year of the event, which this year was held at the East of England Showground, in Peterborough.
The Awards, organised by PECT and sponsored by Skanska and their supply chain partners, provided an excellent opportunity for schools across the city to join together to share their environmental experiences to help inspire other students.
The event gave pupils the chance to demonstrate the fantastic work that they have carried out over the course of the academic year. The day also enabled children to learn some new skills from the four activity zones on offer.
This year’s event took on a new format, working in partnership with Kids Country as part of Outdoor Classroom Day. There was the opportunity to visit beehives, take part in some cheese tasting and even engage with some goats! As the event drew to a close, one student said: “That was the best day ever!”
One teacher fed back that: “It was a fantastic day, our kids loved it and they went running into school to tell anyone who would listen about their day!” Another teacher explained: “The Eco Awards is the highlight of my eco calendar, if I wasn’t able to attend, I would be devastated!”
The afternoon was dedicated to the students being able to present and talk about their own projects, before awards are given out at the end of the day, including giving schools their Eco Charter certificates. The Eco Charter is run by PECT to embed knowledge of sustainability issues across 10 different themes, it runs across the full curriculum and into classrooms to inspire the next generation of forward-thinking students.
“The Eco Awards are the perfect opportunity for schools to showcase the amazing work they are doing to change attitudes and behaviours around sustainability. It brings together teachers, pupils, businesses and organisations, in a cumulative celebration of the achievements of students across the city,” explains the Environmental Education Coordinator Heidi Latronico-Ferris.
“It is highly rewarding for students to be able to display their work to a wide range of representatives and for them to be recognised for it. I am so proud to be a part of the 10th Awards, which this year was held as part of the national Outdoor Classroom Day for the first time.”
John Birkenhead, Business Director for Skanska UK, said, “As part of our commitment to a greener society we are passionate about making a positive difference to the environments in which we operate. We are delighted to sponsor the PECT Eco Awards again this year, which are inspiring the next generation to get involved in protecting their local environment.”
The full list of winners:
Eco Factor Award – The Beeches Primary
Student Choice Award (voted for on the day) – Southfields Primary
Eco Ambassador – Yara Vieira, The Beeches Primary
Kids Country Award – Dogsthorpe Academy
Skanska Special Award – St Augustine’s C of E Junior School
Sustainable Transport – Orton Wistow Primary
Sustainable Materials – Middleton Primary and Southfields Primary
Health & Happiness – St Johns Church School, The Beeches Primary, Middleton Primary, Dogsthorpe Academy
Land Use & Wildlife – Middleton Primary, Dogsthorpe Academy
Zero Carbon – St Augustine’s C of E Junior School
Zero Waste – Hampton Hargate Primary, Orton Wistow Primary, Southfields Primary, St Augustine’s C of E Junior School
Eco Flag – St Augustine’s C of E Junior School, The Beeches Primary
For more information about the Eco Charter for schools please contact Heidi Latronico-Ferris, Environmental Education Coordinator at PECT, on 01733 568408 or email [email protected]. For further details, visit www.pect.org.uk.