Tameside Students to Represent North West in National Sustainability Competition

Two local secondary schools – Fairfield High School for Girls and Longdendale High School – are celebrating after their student teams were selected to represent the North West in the UK finals of the Young Green Briton Challenge, a national competition that empowers young people to tackle climate and sustainability issues through innovation and enterprise.

The North West regional final took place on Friday 16th May at the Museum of Liverpool, where over 80 students across 18 teams from 10 schools presented their ideas to a panel of expert judges. Among the eight teams selected to progress to the UK finals in London were two from Stamford Park Trust schools – one from Fairfield and one from Longdendale.

Fairfield’s team, SustainInhale, developed a concept for a sustainable asthma inhaler, aimed at reducing plastic waste and the environmental impact of traditional inhaler designs. Their proposal combined medical necessity with environmental responsibility, and demonstrated strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Longdendale’s winning group, Caraplastics, impressed judges with “Tanya the Turtle” – a creative, vacuum-powered turtle designed to float on the ocean surface, collecting microplastics. Their idea brought a thoughtful and engaging solution to the problem of marine plastic pollution, showcasing innovation, technical thinking, and environmental awareness.

The Young Green Briton Challenge, run by GenEarth, is a nationwide initiative for 11–16-year-olds, encouraging them to explore climate challenges in their communities and develop entrepreneurial responses. Participants gain valuable experience in teamwork, design, critical thinking, and public speaking, while building confidence as future change-makers.

Melanie Wicks, Executive Principal at Stamford Park Trust, commented:

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication, creativity, and passion for building a more sustainable future. Their success in reaching the UK finals is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the quality of education and ambition within our Trust schools. We are excited to see them take their ideas to the national stage.”

The UK finals will be held in London in July, where the regional winners will present their projects to leading figures in climate education, sustainability and social enterprise.