Eleven schools across North Belfast took the first steps to achieving eco-schools at a special event in the Baby Grand, Belfast on 5 June 2007 to coincide with World Environment Day.
Eleven primary schools - namely Cliftonville, Holy Cross Boys’, Holy Family, Sacred Heart, Star of the Sea, Grove, Seaview, Wheatfield, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin, Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain and Lowwood – have been participating in the CESP for Schools Programme which is being delivered on behalf of North Belfast Partnership by Groundwork Northern Ireland (NI).
The very successful Community Environment Support Programme (CESP), developed by North Belfast Partnership, with funding from the Inner North Belfast EU Urban II Community Initiative Programme has been extended to help primary schools in North Belfast achieve eco-status.
Commenting on the initiative, Ciarán Shannon, Urban II Programmes Manager with the Partnership said:
‘Through our implementation of the Urban II Programme we have been keen to have as broad an impact as possible across North Belfast. Given the central role schools have in inner city communities we believed it was essential to involve teachers and pupils as much as possible. That’s why we developed this initiative to build on the success of our Community Environment Support Programme.
The enthusiasm and commitment of the children and their teachers together with the experience and expertise of Groundwork augurs well for the success of CESP for Schools’
CESP for Schools aims to promote environmental awareness, sustainability and practical environmental action within primary schools in North Belfast through their participation in the international Eco-Schools Programme. The Eco-Schools programme provides a simple framework for schools to analyse their operations and become more sustainable. By following the programme, schools will become a more stimulating place in which to learn, whilst reducing the environmental impact of the whole school on the community. The programme includes setting up an Environmental Action Team of pupils and teachers, responsible for implementing an action plan to reduce the environmental impacts of the schools. Groundwork NI is working with the action teams on designs to improve their school grounds.
Richard Rogers of Groundwork NI says:
“The Eco-Schools Programme gives pupils a sense of responsibility for their school and local community. The knowledge pupils will gain from this project will hopefully be relayed back to the home, with families becoming more environmentally conscious.”
At the event on the 5 June 2007, all eleven schools were presented with the Bronze Award for conducting an environmental review of their schools and implementing an action plan on key topics – bio-diversity, global perspective, water, energy, transport, litter, healthy living, school grounds, waste minimisation and recycling.
Gillian Lawrenson from Cliftonville Primary School is delighted to be involved in the programme:
“The children and the Eco team have really enjoyed the opportunity to shape what happens to the school environment. They are really excited to see the designs created by Groundwork NI for a wildlife area. This will act as a valuable teaching resource for many years to come.”
It is hoped that the schools will continue to work towards the Eco-Schools Silver Award and Green Flag.
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