Berrow Primary pupils become young reporters with new Good News Room sponsored by brilliant local firm
(Live at the scene by Berrow Primary School reporters sponsored by Burnham Portable Toilet Hire)
Reporters include Woody, 5, Jessica, 6, Max, 8, Benny, 6, Jude, 8, Seb, 7, Aubrey, 10, Aime, 10, Sofia, 10, Evie, 9.
Family-run Highbridge business Burnham Portable Toilet Hire backs the school’s new initiative to put children at the heart of positive news.
Pupils at Berrow Primary School near Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, have become young reporters after launching their very own Good News Room – giving them the chance to discover, investigate and share positive stories from their school and community.
The school has joined the growing Good News Rooms project, created by the Good News Post, which gives young people the opportunity to learn real journalism skills while developing their literacy, interviewing, writing, communication and confidence.
The young reporters will learn how to find a story, ask questions, interview people and turn their ideas into engaging news reports – all while celebrating the achievements of the people around them.
The Good News Room has been made possible by being sponsored by brilliant Burnham Portable Toilet Hire, a family-run business based in Highbridge.
The company was started in 1992 by Steve and Jackie Richards after they spotted a need for reliable portable sanitation in the South West. Starting with just 10 flat-pack toilets, the business has grown over more than three decades into a specialist waste-management company serving Somerset and beyond.
Becky Amestoy told the reporters:
“I am really happy that I got to spend an hour with you all. And I am really really impressed with your journalistic skills.”
Headteacher Charlotte Bradley said:
“Training good news at Berrow and sharing good news throughout our community will help shape the future. Our chidren are really enjoying this and are excited for everyting to come”
Burnham Portable Toilet Hire support is helping give Berrow pupils the opportunity to become young reporters and discover the power of positive journalism.
The Good News Rooms project began in Weston-super-Mare in 2011 and was formally launched with Jill Dando as its inspiration in 2016 at Jill’s former school, Worle School. The project reflects Jill’s positive, kind and humble approach to journalism.
Since then, Good News Rooms have grown from Somerset to schools across the UK and beyond.
Good News Post board member, Jill Dando News patron and former King Alfred School headteacher Dan Milford said the project was giving young people the opportunity to discover their voice.
He said: “It’s wonderful to see young people discovering that they have a story to tell. They learn real journalism skills while celebrating the achievements of their friends and community.”
The project has also attracted support from high-profile figures over the years, including Mr Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Alan Titchmarsh, Fiona Bruce, Sir Cliff Richard and the late author and former politician Lord Jeffrey Archer, who was a patron and backed the Jill Dando News project and was a long-standing supporter of the initiative.
The Editor
Young reporters involved in the project have gone on to interview the Prime Minister inside Downing Street, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and BBC, ITV, Sky News and CBS TV news crews.
The Good News Rooms project is now expanding across the UK and beyond, helping young people develop confidence, communication, literacy and media skills – one good news story at a time.
Schools interested in joining the Good News Rooms project can find out more at www.goodnewspost.org or email pippa@goodnewspost.co.uk.
The young reporters’ stories can be read at www.goodnewspost.co.uk.
