SHERINGHAM SHOAL

An example of the Energy Rescuers‘ workshop material

The Sheringham Shoal Community Fund has awarded a grant of £7,000 to the Energy Rescuers project which is running educational children’s workshops in 35 North Norfolk schools. During these workshops, Key stages 1 and 2 children (aged between 5 and 11) are learning about the importance of saving energy and the ecological benefits of renewable energy.

The Sheringham Shoal Community Fund criteria relate to renewable energy, marine environment and sustainability, or education in these subject areas, and the Fund‘s assessing panel found the Energy Rescuers project to be a good fit.

The aim of the project is to inspire energy education and to change habits at an early age. The workshops are based on fun - storytelling, singing, dance and games - and each child receives a book to share with their parents or carers, so that the energy saving message is continued in the home

Feedback from teachers has been encouraging:

”The presentation was well matched to most children.“
”Children were trying to think of energy saving ideas when they came into class.“
”The poem was great – it got all the children involved.“
”The objects hooked pupils into the subject from the beginning and the acting engaged all.“

Bjorn Mo Østgren, General Manager of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm is pleased with the interim findings of the project, saying:

”This is just the type of environmentally friendly scheme that Sheringham Shoal wants to support. The overall objective of the project is to reduce energy use in participating schools by 10%, and an early analysis of short term energy saving in 18 of the 35 schools indicates that the project is progressing well.“

Since its establishment in 2010, the Sheringham Shoal Community Fund has made grant awards totalling over £370,000 to various community groups, charities and schools in North Norfolk.