Local students find their voices to speak out on environmental issues

Pupils from sixteen local schools recently participated in the 2019 Environmental Youth Speak competition at Lagan Valley Island, which was hosted by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Apr 2019, 15:59 BST
Updated 10th Apr 2019, 16:02 BST
All the participants in the 2019 Environmental Youth Speak from schools across the Lisburn Castlereagh area are pictured with Councillor Janet Gray MBE, Chair of the Council's Environmental Services Committee; Alderman James Tinsley, Vice-Chair of the Environmental Services Committee and Noeleen O'Malley, Waste Policy & Development Manager.All the participants in the 2019 Environmental Youth Speak from schools across the Lisburn Castlereagh area are pictured with Councillor Janet Gray MBE, Chair of the Council's Environmental Services Committee; Alderman James Tinsley, Vice-Chair of the Environmental Services Committee and Noeleen O'Malley, Waste Policy & Development Manager.
All the participants in the 2019 Environmental Youth Speak from schools across the Lisburn Castlereagh area are pictured with Councillor Janet Gray MBE, Chair of the Council's Environmental Services Committee; Alderman James Tinsley, Vice-Chair of the Environmental Services Committee and Noeleen O'Malley, Waste Policy & Development Manager.

The event was categorised into a Junior Section (P6 and P7 pupils) and Senior Section (Year 8 to Year 10 pupils), with this year’s respective themes being: ‘How can the 5R’s help deal with our waste?’ and ‘No excuse for single use’.

Matthew Mullan of Annahilt Primary School in the Junior Section and Grace Gowley and Victoria Lavery of Lisnagarvey High School in the Senior Section took the Winners’ Cups back to their schools.

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Sophie-Kelly Bradley and Tara Kerr from St Ita’s Primary School (Junior Section) and Grace Murray and Jack Hassard of Lagan College (Senior Section) won second place.

Winner of the Junior Section, Matthew Mullan of Annahilt Primary School and Winners of the Senior Section Grace Gowley and Victoria Lavery of Lisnagarvey High School are pictured with Councillor Janet Gray MBE, Chair of the Council's Environmental Services Committee; and Alderman James Tinsley, Vice-Chair of the Environmental Services Committee.Winner of the Junior Section, Matthew Mullan of Annahilt Primary School and Winners of the Senior Section Grace Gowley and Victoria Lavery of Lisnagarvey High School are pictured with Councillor Janet Gray MBE, Chair of the Council's Environmental Services Committee; and Alderman James Tinsley, Vice-Chair of the Environmental Services Committee.
Winner of the Junior Section, Matthew Mullan of Annahilt Primary School and Winners of the Senior Section Grace Gowley and Victoria Lavery of Lisnagarvey High School are pictured with Councillor Janet Gray MBE, Chair of the Council's Environmental Services Committee; and Alderman James Tinsley, Vice-Chair of the Environmental Services Committee.

The third place winners were Kacper Kwiecien and Lennon Humphries from Brooklands Primary School (Junior Section) and Jack Kimber and Owen Greer of Beechlawn School (Senior Section).

Councillor Janet Gray MBE, Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, said: “It was an honour to be part of this year’s Environmental Youth Speak and I would like to thank local recycling company, Natural World Products Ltd for providing sponsorship to this event.

“I found it very encouraging to hear how passionate the younger generation is about waste and responsible recycling. Each young person delivered an excellent, well-structured presentation on the nominated recycling topics; and they made it a very difficult decision for us judges to determine the winners. I must say everyone did a fantastic job.”

All the participants at the Lisburn Castlereagh event, organised by the Council’s Waste Management Section, received a certificate, a reusable shopping bag, reusable travel cup and a recycled ruler.

Related topics:Castlereagh City CouncilLisburn