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Oxfordshire Primary School Pupils Presented Climate Care Awards by Lord-Lieutenant
In a heartening ceremony held on Friday at Charlbury Primary School, five enthusiastic pupils were recognised for their commitment to climate action as they received the inaugural Climate Care Awards. The Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire presented the awards to the young climate champions.
The Climate Care Awards, an initiative by Ridge Clean Energy (RCE), aim to inspire sustainable living, heighten climate change awareness, and encourage positive contributions from individuals and communities towards the health of our planet. The awards consist of three levels - Bronze (Awareness), Silver (Action) and Gold (Leadership).
Marjorie Glasgow BEM, Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, shared her thoughts on the occasion:
“I am so pleased to present the first ever Climate Care Awards, recognising young leaders in Oxfordshire for their climate change awareness and action. Empowering young minds to take action against climate change is essential for building a sustainable and resilient world.
“Today’s young climate champions have demonstrated that even small actions can lead to meaningful change, and our whole community is incredibly proud of their achievements. It is a joy to celebrate the next generation of climate leaders in Oxfordshire and have the opportunity to highlight two of HM The King’s four priorities: Climate and Community.'”
The initiative has seen an enthusiastic response from Charlbury Primary School pupils, who have actively engaged in various activities aimed at reducing their carbon footprint.
In reflecting on their Gold awards, recipients Sebastian and Cleo highlighted their learning on carbon footprints and peatlands, which they noted ‘was wearing away… but which can be used for plant-growing.’ Both Sebastian and Cleo emerged from the Climate Care Awards thinking more carefully about what they eat and their personal water usage. Cleo recently wrote to Great Western Railway about ‘making the train tickets cheaper so that more people can travel by train,’ reducing carbon footprints, with Sebastian writing to his local MP about the problem of sewage in our rivers.
Ms Charlie Barwell, Headteacher of Charlbury Primary School, highlighted the importance of this program:
“I am delighted to see five of our students receive inaugural Ridge Climate Care Awards, recognising their climate change awareness and action over the last months. The students' progress has been uplifting for all involved. These awards are crucial in helping educate the next generation of climate leaders in our county and the wider world.”
RCE’s Community Partnership Coordinator, Teresa Hall, emphasised the collaborative spirit of the program:
“We’re thrilled to see how much excitement and enthusiasm the Climate Care Awards have generated among the pupils. Today marks the first awards ceremony of what we hope will become a tradition in and beyond schools soon as Climate Care Awards expand to secondary schools and further into communities. By bringing together education, community activism, and carbon emission awareness, we stand a fighting chance to tackle climate change.”
Ridge Clean Energy is a responsible renewable energy developer based in Oxfordshire, working to generate clean energy with enduring benefits for local communities and landlords.