Good News Spreads Across Highbridge as Five More Schools Join Growing Project
By Jill Dando News
Five more schools in the Highbridge area have joined the growing Good News Rooms project set up by the Good News Post, as the Somerset born initiative continues to expand across the UK and beyond.
The new schools are being sponsored by Burnham Portable Toilet Hire, taking the total number of schools involved to 22 across Somerset, as well as one in Yorkshire and another in Malawi, Africa.
The schools are Churchfield Church School, Berrow Primary Church Academy, East Huntspill Primary School, West Huntspill Primary Schoo and Pawlett Primary School.
The Good News Rooms project was created in a headteacher’s office in 2011 and gives young people aged four to 21 the opportunity to learn journalism, presentation and communication skills while sharing positive stories from their communities in the spirit of former BBC presenter Jill Dando.
Burnham Portable Toilet Hire manager Becky Amestoy said the company was delighted to back the scheme.
She said: “We’re proud to support local schools and invest in young people. The Good News Rooms help children develop confidence and practical skills while celebrating the positive stories that often go unnoticed.”
“As a local business, we believe in investing in the future of our community and creating opportunities for children to learn practical skills while celebrating the positive stories that go unnoticed.”
Good News Post board member and current King Alfred School headteacher Dan Milford said the project was having a huge impact on young people.
He said: “The Good News Post is life-changing. I’ve seen its impact over the last decade and the inspiration it gives children is remarkable.
“We are thrilled to see five more schools from the Highbridge area joining. At a time when bad news and social media negativity are everywhere, every school should have a project like this.”
The initiative teaches pupils reporting, interviewing and presentation skills and encourages them to tell uplifting stories from their communities.
Good News Post
Young reporters involved in the programme have gone on to interview the Prime Minister inside Downing Street on three occasions, the Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament and BBC presenter Fiona Bruce.
Charlotte Bradley, Headteacher of Berrow Primary. Church Academy, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors who are supporting us by funding the programme. We'd like to say a big thank you to Burnham Portable Toilet Hire. "
“We are delighted to be joining the Good News Room Programme in September. We believe this programme will provide our children with great opportunities and experiences that will lead to incredible things.
“We encourage our children at Berrow to be aspirational, to step outside of their comfort zone and to share their voice. We know this programme will encourage our children to thrive and we can't wait to get started.
The project is rooted in the legacy of Weston-super-Mare-born broadcaster Jill Dando, whose life and career were celebrated with a blue plaque ceremony at Weston Town Council last year.
Children are encouraged to do real-life journalism ‘with a smile’ with kindness, positivity and humility. The programme builds aspiration, confidence, as well as communication, literacy, and presentation skills.
