CforLP

Lifelong leadership learning in Cumbria

Primary school children need more local company partners to ‘make a difference’ through the Bright Stars 2022 business programme

Primary school children need more local company partners to ‘make a difference’ through the Bright Stars 2022 business programme

More companies are needed to partner entrepreneurial pupils at Cumbrian primary schools who aim to ‘make a profit & make a difference’ by taking part in the Bright Stars 2022 programme organised by the Centre for Leadership Performance.

A record number of up to 50 schools is set to take part in Bright Stars 2022 which begins in May.  CforLP wants to ensure all primary schools across the county are offered the opportunity to take part in this inclusive and exciting programme and enable more local businesses to forge greater links to their local schools.  

The scheme was co-created in partnership with businesses 9 years ago to nurture a culture of aspiration and enterprise and we want that collaboration to continue to grow.  CforLP is keen to connect to more businesses to help fund the scheme and work with pupils to develop their business skills, social enterprise ideas and open their ideas to the excitement of business from a young age.

More than 1,500 pupils took part in Bright Stars 2021 and the causes and campaigns they chose ranged from improving road safety, encouraging recycling and welcoming wildlife to reaching out to support lonely people and the homeless.

Now in its tenth year, Bright Stars enables primary school pupils across Cumbria to run their own mini businesses and ‘make a difference’ to something that matters to them. 

The eight-week programme introduces Cumbrian primary school pupils to leadership, social entrepreneurship and teamwork and gets them excited about the world of business in a fun accessible way. It enables children to meet positive role models and raises their aspirations and awareness of local careers, provides leadership opportunities and encourages young people to make a positive impact in their local communities. 

Organised and project-managed by the CforLP and delivered and funded in partnership with local businesses, the programme has delivered huge benefits for children by enriching the school curriculum and encouraging the children to ‘dream BIG’.

The programme is supported by Sellafield Ltd and BAE Systems with both encouraging their supply chain partners to take part by advising and guiding the children as they create businesses designed to ‘make a difference’ to something that matters to them.

Neil Doherty, Corporate Social Responsibility manager at BAE Systems Submarines in Barrow explained:  “We are delighted to work with the Centre for Leadership Performance again to give hundreds of children in the Furness area a fantastic opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial and other life skills. The development of these skills is not only important in enabling the children to reach their full potential but we also hope it will encourage them to use their new skills and confidence to get involved in other social action projects and initiatives in the local community.”   

CforLP Executive Director Sarah Glass adds: “Bright Stars is a successful collaboration with Cumbrian businesses to bring them closer to their local communities and the youngsters who are their future workforce. Businesses fund the programme but they also give up a few hours to support their partner schools – either online or face-to-face – delivering huge benefits to the children and the businesses themselves.”

To get involved and learn more about how businesses support Bright Stars and why they take part please visit www.cforlp.org.uk/programmes/bright-stars-primary/ or contact  claire.johnson@cforlp.org.uk.

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Lifelong Leadership Learning in Cumbria