Published at 15:45, Wednesday, 05 November 2008

PRIMARY School children across Cumbria are to be given a chance to show off their musical talents in front of a team of judges, just like on the X Factor.

The R Factor, in association with Resource Cumbria – Cumbria’s Waste Partnership between the seven local authorities – wants pupils to devise a musical message to encourage Cumbrian people to practise the three Rs of waste awareness: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Martin Allman, waste prevention manager, Cumbria County Council, said: “In the last three years Cumbria has reduced its landfill waste by 100,000 tonnes through increasing recycling and composting. This is a fantastic recycling rate, however for the future it’s important that we continue the good work and make Cumbria create as little waste as possible. The R Factor is a really exciting competition that children can express themselves in, whilst learning about the importance of the environment – I’m looking forward to listening to the results! ”

Early in the New Year all primary pupils who have been registered by their teachers will take part in a self contained workshop with professional music charity “MusicLinks” in which they will plan, write and record a song to promote and the 3Rs of rubbish.

Andy Halsey, MusicLinks, “As well as guiding the pupils through the whole process of the competition in a child friendly manner, we will encourage the children to explore and develop musical ideas through composition and group performance, and if there is time they will possibly have the chance to develop their own musical instruments using recycled materials."

Once pupils have recorded their masterpiece it will be listened to by the R Factor judges who will select three finalists from North Cumbria and three from the south of the county to go through to a public vote on Lakeland Radio, Abbey FM, The Bay and CFM.

“All Primary Schools across the county have been sent details of the project,” explained Gordon Thompson of CN Radio who are coordinating the on-air competition, “and in order to take part teachers should register their pupils by November 21.”

The two winners (one from the North of the county and one from South Cumbria) will have their song professionally recorded at their school, ready to be used as an on air promotional campaign to encourage everybody in Cumbria to reduce, reuse and recycle.

“The R Factor is a great way to increase awareness,” said Coun Ray Bloxham, chair of the Resource Cumbria Partnership, “as the youngsters will learn about the importance of recycling in a fun and enjoyable way, and they will hopefully take their knowledge home to their parents.”

For further information call 0845 055 1118 or log onto www.recycleforcumbria.org/theRfactor.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk