Children join summit

PUPILS from two Yate schools were among 150 young people who gathered to talk to regional leaders about their future lives.

The students from Yate Academy and Brimsham Green Secondary School joined others from more than 60 secondary schools at Aerospace Bristol in Filton for the West of England Schools Summit, hosted by Metro Mayor Dan Norris, and co-designed with Creative Youth Network.

They were there to learn about the possible careers they might follow in the future and were asked to make their voices heard on key regional issues affecting their lives, with a chance to shape the policy decisions of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority headed by Mr Norris.

The event included a series of interactive workshops led by regional employers, including a session from Bristol Energy Network on cutting energy use and a test of the engineers and planners of the future using a LEGO model of a city under the shocks and stresses of changing weather conditions.

Ten students were also able to pitch policy ideas to Mr Norris and a panel of business leaders in a live Dragon’s Den-style competition.

Mr Norris said: "They told me their number one issue was the climate and biodiversity emergency we face, but more importantly they also looked for solutions."

Mr Norris said ideas from the young people will directly feed into WECA policy - including an upcoming West of England plan for transport - and said the authority would issue progress reports on how the summit has shaped change.

He said: “This summit was all about asking young people what kind of West of England they want to see - and turning their ideas into reality.”

Maypole tradition

CHILDREN from Iron Acton Primary School danced round the maypole on the village green as part of traditional May Day celebrations. School executive head teacher Mike Riches said: "Children from across the school had been preparing their may pole dances ahead of the event. They did incredibly well!"