WHEN it comes to recycling, pupils at Gorse Ride Junior School don’t just talk rubbish.
The enterprising students collect it as well and this week their efforts won the school a major award.
They came out tops in a county wide competition run by the Salvation Army to encourage recycling in schools.
Called Recycle with Michael pupils were challenged to collect unwanted shoes and clothes that would otherwise have gone to landfill.
In Berkshire, over 3,000 pupils from eleven schools took part in the initiative, collectively donating a phenomenal 2.5 tonnes of textiles.
At Gorse Ride, students gathered in 0.3 tonnes, the largest donation of all the schools that took part across the region.
They were delighted when a very special visitor arrived to present the winning trophy and certificate.
The scheme’s very own mascot Michael turned up to meet with pupils and hand the award to members of the school’s Eco Committee, led by Angela Davies.
“The pupils of Gorse Ride Junior School were delighted to have the opportunity to take part in this venture; it really made us all think about what we can do towards reducing waste, as well as helping others,” she said.
“The School’s Eco Committee put a lot of effort into promoting this campaign to their peers. It was a real privilege to receive a visit from the Salvation Army and the Eco Committee were so proud to receive their trophy and certificate from Michael.”
Recycle with Michael aims to alert schools to the need for recycling as well as raising funds for The Salvation Army’s work helping vulnerable people from all walks of life in communities across the UK.
Kirk Bradley, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd, said: “We’re delighted to name the pupils from Berkshire’s Gorse Ride Junior School our Recycle with Michael champions. We were overwhelmed by the school’s response to the campaign and the dedication of pupils and staff in promoting and acting on the recycling message.
“Our van was full to the brim on collection day thanks to all the donations. In fact, participation in the competition across the whole county has been amazing. We hope this is the start of a determined drive to give unwanted items a new lease of life – turning clothes, shoes and textiles into funds for local schools as well as for our charitable work.”
