Veolia scores at Pride Park with Carbon Bootprint

An innovative project to help youngsters reduce their personal carbon footprint

Derby County and Veolia Environmental Services are helping youngsters across Derbyshire reduce their personal carbon footprint with an innovative education project that links environmental awareness with fitness.

The Veolia Carbon Bootprint was launched by the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Tom Spaul and Derby County CEO, Tom Glick at half-time at the Derby County v Crystal Palace game at Pride Park with a display by local children of one of the Bootprint modules in front of 25,000 fans.

The scheme will see pupils at twenty schools benefit from a six week programme designed to increase the children’s awareness of the environment and how they can make lifestyle choices to improve their carbon footprint.

Each week of the Carbon Bootprint delivery programme represents a different topic with a classroom based exercise followed by a practical outdoors training session designed to reinforce the points learned during the lesson.

Children learn the benefits of recycling, energy conservation and exercise and are encouraged to recycle enough paper in class to fill a lifesize model of Derby County keeper Stephen Bywaters’ 6’4” frame over the six week course.

Tom Spaul, Veolia Environmental Services’ Chief Operating Officer, said: “We have a major presence in the Derby area and this ground breaking community initiative is a great way to help local pupils learn good habits about recycling energy conservation and exercise in a fun and exciting way.”

Simon Carnall, Community Manager for Derby County in the Community added: “We are delighted to be delivering the Veolia Carbon Bootprint during  the coming academic year and are positive that this will not only be a flagship scheme for us on a local level but one that is recognised nationally as a model of good practice.”