Pupils use World Cup to promote recycling

Backed by the Park Lane Learning Trust, 24 year eight and nine students at Park Lane High, Halifax, will be participating in the events next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Formed in March, the Trust is a collaboration between Huddersfield University, a housing association, the school and Calderdale Council to help improve education standards

The youngsters will be in teams representing different countries for what the organisers promise will be a fun packed two-day event.

Activities will include DJ-ing, dance, art, face painting and a penalty shootout.

The event is called the "recycled world cup" because recycled materials have used to make items for the activities.

Recycling is promoted to the pupils to encourage them to learn about the children around the world that enjoy football but have to be resourceful in order to take part, the organisers say.

Further assistance has come from CapeUK, a research agency covering learning and development in the region.

The firm's West Yorkshire programme director, Madeline Irwin, claimed that the event was "a wonderful example of CapeUK's creative partnership projects taking place across Yorkshire."

Such partnerships are intended inspire young people as well as their teachers and parents to be creative and to explore different cultures, explained Ms Irwin.

Councillor Olwen Jennings, portfolio holder for children and young people for Calderdale Council said: "This event is a wonderful opportunity for the students to get involved in their local community and demonstrate the skills they have learnt through the creative project.

"It is also a chance for junior school children to take part in a variety of events focussing on the arts and offers an alternative to the traditional sports day."

CapeUK claims the World Cup event will be a fun and positive experience using creative arts to develop young people's abilities.

They say the pupils can contribute to the local community as well as gaining qualifications in arts -based media.