Pupils to showcase green ideas at COP26
A team of local primary school pupils are set to head to COP26 this week to take part in a competition showcasing green social enterprise ideas.
Bridge of Allan Primary is one of 19 shortlisted schools from across Scotland who will take part in a ‘Dragons Den’ style final at Glasgow’s Strathclyde Union, aiming to showcase their unique climate-conscious plans.
Children from all over the country were challenged to devise a social enterprise which focused on dealing with the climate and preparing for the future, as the eyes of the world fall on Scotland for the two-week global environment conference.
The BoA Primary Six team’s social enterprise concept is based around food waste reduction, with the creation of a vegetable allotment at the school to supply the school canteen, with excess vegetables being sold to the local community.
The ideas will be presented to a panel of experts who will decide on the winning idea.
Lyndsay Macnair, Head
Teacher at Bridge of Allan Primary, said: “We are delighted that our P6 pupils have made it to the Dragons Den event.
“It is an opportunity for the pupils to develop and apply many key skills. This project has ignited an enthusiasm for supporting our community and becoming more sustainable.
“I am extremely proud of the group and what they have set out to do.”
The event is being delivered as part of the ‘After the Pandemic’ programme, with the Dragons’
Den final being organised by the Social Enterprise Academy, which since 2007 has delivered Social Enterprise Schools, innovated in partnership with the Scottish Government.
Emily Mnyayi, head of education at Social Enterprise Academy, said: “Our Climate Change Dragons’ Den is a truly fantastic opportunity for young people in Scotland to be a part of this moment in history and take action against climate change.
“With Glasgow hosting COP26, this special event is the perfect chance for young people to embrace social enterprise and focus their ideas on sustainability so that they may respond to what is not only an environmental challenge, but also a social one.
“We are always fascinated to see the innovative ideas coming out of our Social Enterprise School programme and this event will once again highlight how important social enterprise is in schools to embrace our young people as future change makers.”