Is it possible to make a smoothie from scratch while riding a bike? Can you really navigate your local neighbourhood by gravity defying acrobatics alone? Newcastle College students hope to answer these and many other sustainability questions during a special Road Show this week.
The sixth form students are staging a major event, the “Re-Newcastle College: Sustainability Road Show”, at Rye Hill Campus on Thursday March 15, featuring a wide range of activities which raise awareness of sustainability issues. The event also celebrates a partnership the college has forged with the North East’s Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) in Education for Sustainable Development.
Deborah Johnson, Head of Geography and Environmental Studies and Rachael Little, Sustainable Communities and Environments North East (SCENE) Coordinator, at the college are working with RCE North East on a number of local sustainability projects which then link to other regional centres of expertise around the world backed by a United Nations initiative.
Deborah said: “Essentially what we are doing is looking at global sustainability objectives but applying them in our own local community.
“Part of the role we have taken on at the college is to stage a showcase event of all the projects we are running or supporting which are linked to social, economic and environmental sustainability.”
Visitors will be able to take a turn on the “Cool Green Smoothie Machine”, which enables cyclists to generate enough power to run a smoothie maker while simultaneously burning off as many calories as their drink contains.
The bike is being supplied by former engineer, David Malone, the manager of Real Food Works, who bought the bike to help educate young people about the importance of looking after their health.
Former Newcastle College student, Craig Cheel, 18, from Fenham, will also lead a demonstration of free running – the exciting sport which uses jumps and vaults to creatively move around, through and over everyday urban obstacles such as walls and railings.
Teenager Craig recently set up his own free running teaching and performance business and has been hosting workshops at Newcastle College staged through the Urban Games.
Solar Learning’s Urban Games & Hip Hop Project is part of NE-Generation and has been funded by Legacy Trust UK which is seeking to create a lasting impact from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by funding local ideas and talent to inspire creativity across the UK.
Other Showcase attractions include: Environmental Awareness and Climate Week stalls, dance performances by TILT, a range of businesses run by young entrepreneurs and information about student-led project on global maternal healthcare,
Rachael Little, said: “This event provides a great platform to demonstrate how committed to the college’s sustainability agenda our students are.”
The college adopted a sustainability strategy in 2010. It is accredited to the UK Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme and makes returns to DEFRA on its annual energy consumption.
SCENE is a project that runs across Newcastle College giving both students and staff opportunities to support sustainability, corporate social responsibility and carbon reduction, through volunteering for both local and global charities.
