Solihull Chamber patron sponsors school sustainability award

Birmingham Business Park has backed the Solihull Council-led Greener Solihull Schools Awards, that recognises schools across the borough who take action on climate change, and has sponsored Damson Wood Nursery & Infant School.

Greener Solihull Schools Awards, challenge children and staff to learn about the environment locally and globally, and make their school more eco-friendly. It is open to all schools in the borough and there is an incredible breadth of climate action taking place in Solihull schools.

Lori Henebury, marketing community and business development manager, Birmingham Business Park said: “This was Damson Wood Nursery & Infant school 's first year applying for the award and to receive all three levels, is a fantastic achievement. ”

The awards are broken down into three different levels: 1,2 and 3.

Level 1: A team of pupils help to raise awareness and improve their school environment.

Level 2: Engage the school in three local or national awareness campaigns, linked with sustainability.

Level 3: Introduce the Global Goals initiative to the whole school and find curriculum links.

The list of schools that received awards along with their business sponsor is as follows:

• Balsall Common Primary School (Solihull Chamber of Commerce)
• Damson Wood Infant School (Birmingham Business Park)
• George Fentham Primary School(Birmingham Business Park)
• Langley Primary School(Touchwood)
• Langley Secondary School (John Lewis)
• Merstone School (Birmingham Airport)
• Monkspath Junior & Infant School (Prologis)
• Peterbrook Primary School (Prologis)
• St Anne 's Catholic Primary School (Birmingham Airport)
• St George and Teresa Catholic Primary School (Touchwood)
• St Patrick 's Primary Academy (Fieldfisher)
• St Peter 's Catholic Secondary School (Birmingham Airport)
• St Augustine 's Catholic Primary School (John Lewis)

The main objective with the award is to:

• Develop a sense of pride in the school for sustainability activities
• Encourage further sustainability related activities through highlighting positive stories and role models
• Provide opportunities to celebrate, share best practice and reward efforts

Lori continued: “It was great to read in the application pack how enthusiastically Damson Wood Nursery & Infant school 's Eco-Warriors are working to encourage the rest of the school to become eco-friendly. I loved finding out that they have had toys and plants sales at events and that any profit made was invested back into ECO resources.

“The way their curriculum is encouraging healthy eating and recycling, and the level of support they have gained from charities and local business is really impressive! ”

Ruth Garbett and Natalie Chidler, Damson Wood Eco Leads said: “There are lots of opportunities for our ECO- warriors to meet and they are always full of ideas about what we can do next. Using our Eco-board, that is both creative and interactive, allows us to reach out to everyone. ”

Emily Hume, Damson Wood Headteacher said: “As the next generation, it is truly our responsibility to change our community and the world for the better. ”

Sarah Lardner, engagement officer in Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council 's sustainability team, said: “The conference is a wonderfully collaborative event, with businesses, council officers and various organisations all contributing.

“I 'd like to extend my thanks to all of the business champions for their motivational feedback and to the dedicated teachers who shared their fabulous best practice. It was especially lovely to hear about the generous rewards the schools have received from businesses. ”

Find out more information on the Greener Solihull Schools Awards

Pictured (L-R): Lori Henebury, Natalie Chidler, Ruth Garbett and Emily Hume with Damson Wood Nursery & Infant school pupils