Eco celebrations at Bridge Integrated

David Manning (SSE Airtricity,) Tanya Davis (BIPS' ECO Coorodinator,) Ian Humphreys (Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful,) Sarah, Finn and Caitlin (BIPS' ECO Warriors) receiving first place ECO Energy Project of the year plaque.

The Banbridge school won two major Eco awards which were presented recently at the Everglades Hotel by Frank Mitchell (UTV), David Manning, Director of Corporate Communications SSE Airtricity and Ian Humphreys, CEO Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

“We won first place in the SSE Airtricity Global Wind Awards Primary Energy Project of the Year and second place in the Primary Schools’ ECO Committee of the year,” said Tanya Davis (ECO Coordinator).

“For the two award categories, I had to complete a written application, detailing our ECO Energy work and our ECO Committee involvement, accompanied by photographs and powerpoints. Frank Mitchell commented on our winning tagline, “BIPS’ ECO - Transferring ECO learning from school to home.”

She continued, “After a lunch and photo session, including with Michael Conlin, Olympic and Commonwealth Games Boxer, we had a fabulous trip up to Slieve Kirk (Derry) Wind Farm.

“We received £150 of wind energy activity resources and a plaque for our first placing and £50 for our second placing.”

Speaking at a Prize Giving Ceremony in Belfast Central Station, Translink Chief Operating Officer Philip O’Neill said: “Congratulations to all 24 schools who have successfully completed the travel challenge and embraced the benefits of sustainable transport.

Carmel Fyfe, Eco-Schools Manager, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said: “The Translink Travel Challenge has been an exciting way to educate our young people further on the positive reasons for using sustainable transport.

“Encouraging sustainable transport use is a key topic in the Eco-Schools Programme and we are delighted to once again be supported by Translink.”