news release
    4th Feb 2005

SURFERS ‘ENVIRONMENT PROJECT’ DROPS IN ON 1500 PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER DESKS NATIONWIDE.

Over 1500 primary schools across the country have received an invitation to enter a ‘first of its kind’ environmental competition run by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and O’Neill. The competition aims to get school classes to undertake school projects that help inform or educate about the damaging issues facing ‘our seas’ from issues like sewage pollution, beach litter, climate change and toxic chemicals. SAS have organised the project following a £10,000 donation from leading boarding company O’Neill.

The SAS/O’Neill ‘Marine Environment Project’ aims to get classes thinking more about water environment issues through classroom and out-of-classroom activities. The project packs are designed for the Key Stage 2 PSHE curriculum and come complete with information sheets and teacher notes.

The project first and foremost helps pupils to talk about their opinions and explain their views on issues that affect themselves and the environment. However 5 schools, judged to have designed the most creative projects will win a day out with SAS and O’Neill in Cornwall to see the best of our marine environment with Orca Seafari’s boat tour along Cornwall’s south coast, fun SAS education workshops to take place the National Maritime Museum and a chance to meet some of O’Neill’s top professional surfers.

Schools must register with SAS by 14th February. Documentation of their environment saving class project should reach SAS by 17th March - the birthday of Jack O’Neill – founder of the wetsuit. A judging panel will then convene on the 15th April to determine the 5 school classes with the best projects that will visit Cornwall during the week 18th to 22nd July 2005 to enjoy an action packed day with SAS and O’Neill.

Richard Hardy, SAS Campaigns Director says: “Educating the next generation has always been very important to SAS as we believe they have the power to help safeguard the future of our watery planet. This project is the second undertaken by SAS in recent years following the success of our secondary schools ‘Citizenship’ learning resource”. O’Neill’s Paul Wilkinson says: ”We’re delighted to be able to support Surfers Against Sewage and to invest in a project that sows the seeds for protecting and conserving our oceans through the primary schools curriculum”.

For more information please contact Andy Cummins or Richard Hardy on Tel: 0845 4583001 or O’Neill on Tel: 0191 4191777.

Special thanks to the grom project for donating the mural image.

Back