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What better way to celebrate the achievements of our Durham Good Life Schools than with a day packed full of collaboration, networking and workshops? To top it all off, thanks to Durham Energy Institute at Durham University, we had the most incredible view of Durham Cathedral in the autumn sunshine.

After sharing details and progress about their Good Life Schools projects, pupils and staff got to work with some of our community partners in a carousel of workshops.

From planting seeds in homemade biodegradable plant pots with OASES, to learning to sew on a button with Seated Sewing and making their own smoothies from surplus fruits with REfUSE, attendees came away having learned something new and had fun in the process.

"I recently attended the Regional Summit at Durham University and I wanted to thank everyone who organised it for allowing us such an amazing, enriching experience. The Good Life Schools Programme is something very close to my heart. From a young age, I have always wanted to help my school, my community and my planet, so the project has been a perfect chance for me to express this desire for change."

Melody, Year 11 student at Wolsingham School, who has been helping with delivery of the programme to younger students. 

“The Good Life Schools Summits have been a truly special celebration of youth leadership and teamwork. This programme helps students navigate the pressures of consumer culture and reimagine ways of living and learning. We’ve seen young people connecting, sharing ideas and celebrating what matters to them and their communities. Thank you to our partners for making these gatherings possible. It has been a joyful time for everyone involved!”

Claire Arnott, Head of Good Life Schools
 
Joining us for this showcase of Good Life Schools was Councillor Cathy Hunt from Durham County Council, who heard about the impact the programme is having in the schools involved. Whitworth Park Academy are working with Kat from Seated Sewing to run a fashion show highlighting the issue of fast fashion, whilst students at Belmont Community School have been running ‘Bring and Buy’ sales and are working on the creation of a new outdoor wellbeing space. 

Wolsingham School students are about to embark on a project that aims to save items from landfill by learning how to repair them.  

It was also fantastic to be able to welcome students and staff from Elemore Hall School, who are beginning their Good Life Schools journey very soon.

Rich Hurst, Education Development Advisor for Sustainability Education at Durham County Council gave the keynote speech at the Summit and shared how impressed he was with the work of the Durham changemakers.

"I was so pleased with the success of the Durham Good Life Schools celebration hosted by Durham University. The workshops from the community partners were a great mix of activities all linked to the aims and aspiration of a Good Life. I had some really interesting conversations with the pupils and staff from the schools who showcased their work and those that are joining the programme this year. The Durham County Council Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People also attended, and I know she was very impressed by the schools engagement so far."

- Rich Hurst, Education Development Advisor for Sustainability Education, Durham County Council 

As for me in my role as Community Engagement Lead in the North East, I have seen just how much time and energy has been put into the Good Life Schools projects by teachers and pupils so far across our region, and it was wonderful to be able to have so many of them in one place at one time to celebrate their achievements. I can’t wait to see the projects continue to develop and look forward to being able to provide further updates about their successes!

The Good Life Schools Programme is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by environmental charity Global Action Plan.

If you are a school in Durham or Redcar & Cleveland and would like to talk about bringing the Good Life Schools Programme into your setting, please contact Liz on [email protected]