School children from 26 schools in Leicester are to celebrate their achievements in the Eco-Management Audit Scheme at an event organised by Leicester green charity, Environ.The event is to take place early in October when children and teachers from old and new EMAS schools will be invited to share their experiences and celebrate their success.
The schools are amongst the first in the country to have achieved this European award for which they had to show how they reduced a wide range of their environmental impacts, such as waste, energy, water and school grounds.
The schools have accomplished this with support from Environ, working towards Leicester City Council's goal of making all of its services EMAS-verified.
The venue is as yet undecided but plans for the event are well underway. Environ's EMAS Co-ordinator Charlotte Lewis said:
It will be a really exciting pupil orientated event, which will give all EMAS schools the chance to meet and share ideas with each other in an environmental setting. We wanted not only to congratulate those schools which have worked hard to getting EMAS verification, but also enthuse those just coming aboard, about the environmental benefits of adopting EMAS within school. There will be practical, educational and fun workshops for everyone to get involved in as well as the chance for schools to create relationships through the launch of the new EMAS Handbook, Website and Newsletter. It will be an inspiring event for all involved and one which we are all looking forward to!
EMAS, originally developed for businesses in 1995, had never been applied to schools in the UK before Environ and Leicester City Council began working together with support from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF).
A further NRF grant of more than £200,000 will now allow another 32 schools to work towards this green goal over the next two years.
Schools taking part in EMAS receive an environment audit and then pupils and teachers work together to develop an action plan to reduce their impact on the planet.
Some exciting projects have been put into action through the scheme such as plans to install a wind turbine at Eyres Monsell Primary School and Beaumont Lodge Primary School has created a new woodland wildlife area for pupils to explore.
For more information call EMAS Co-ordinator Charlotte Lewis on 0116 222 1596/ 07890 399837 or to take part in the photograph opportunity call Lisa Smith, Communications Officer on 0116 222 0254, lsmith@environ.org.uk
