Pupils’ plans set sail and gather pace after Westminster visit

Youngsters have been making waves with an inspirational community plan in the corridors of power in London.

Their idea is to get a Tall Ship permanently dry-docked into Whitehaven as a tourist attraction. The youngsters decided in their very first meeting that they didn’t just want to help the school, but also wanted to help the English town become cleaner, generate more tourism and promote the harbour.

Pupils from St James C of E Junior School in Whitehaven were invited to Parliament after meeting and sharing their ideas with Whitehaven and Workington MP, Josh MacAlister.

Meanwhile, i3 Decommissioning Partners stepped up to fund and organise the trip. i3 Decommissioning Partners is a Joint Venture at Sellafield, made up of Altrad, Shepley Engineers and Amentum.

The school council which includes seven class ambassadors – Thea Lock, Jorja Nicholls, Jett Hodgson, Jack McCauley, Thomas Kendall, Edie Lawson, and Jaxon Sparks – have been very busy working on ideas of how to improve Whitehaven with their creative tourist attraction.

As well as presenting their plan, the pupils also enjoyed personal tour of the halls of Westminster and Big Ben and visited Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, and the London Eye.

Teacher Neil Carruthers said: “What a two days – it was positive, powerful, and progressive… I honestly believe we can do this. There is a long way to go, but we feel we are well on course with the wind in our sails.”

Pupils and teacher Neil Carruthers with MP Josh MacAlister