Panto stars join forces with Eco Education service

After a fantastic response last year, Southport Eco Centre’s Christmas campaign is back.

The Centre’s Education Service has once again teamed up with The Atkinson and the cast of the upcoming pantomime Aladdin to help spread some Christmas cheer and some important eco messages about how we can all reduce, reuse and recycle over the festive period.

The campaign is supported by an interactive online competition running from the 1st to 12th December, which has been designed and created by the Eco Centre teachers.

Participants are invited to visit www.southportecocentre.com and open a stage door on every day. Behind each door they can learn from the cast members, including actress Patsy Kensit and local radio presenter Claire Simmo, the ways we can all be more eco-friendly.

Participants can download the entry form and use the facts revealed by the cast members, to be in with a chance of winning a family ticket to the show. Shopping vouchers supporting Southport BIDs shop local campaign are also up for grabs. All entrants will also earn learning credits towards Children’s University.

The campaign supports Sefton Council's climate emergency declaration and the call for positive action.

Darren Lloyd, resident teacher at the Eco Centre and designer of the campaign said:

“We know Christmas is a fantastic time for our children, but it is also a testing time for our planet due to amount of waste generated during the period. Our young people have very real concerns about the impact we are having on our planet and this campaign gives them an opportunity to engage in a fun way while helping spread some extremely important messages.

“The response to last year’s campaign was phenomenal so we hope our schools and communities will get behind it once again.”

The campaign is part of the centre’s longstanding partnership work with the Merseyside Waste and Recycling Authority.

Cllr Tony Concepcion, Chairperson of MRWA said:

“The amount of waste created often rises around the holiday period, but Christmas doesn’t have to cost the earth.

By planning before you buy, only purchasing what you need and recycling everything we can, we can all make Christmas a little bit greener.

We’re proud to support the Southport Eco Centre’s campaign to show people the importance of ease of having an eco-friendly Christmas.”

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said:

“This is a great opportunity for young people in Sefton to learn some important eco-messages that are touched with the magic of Christmas.

“And for them to win the chance of a family trip to Aladdin at The Atkinson at the same time.”

People can find out more at www.southportecocentre.com