R FACTOR FINALISTS PERFORM IN CUMBRIA

24th June 2009

The R-Factor show's being held in Penrith today.

Hundreds of pupils from schools all over Cumbria were asked by Lakeland Radio and Resource Cumbria to write a song to promote the three R's: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.

The winners, Castle Park Primary in Kendal will be performing live with other finalists, after recording a professional version of their song with Music Links.

More than 5,000 of you called us to vote for your favourites.

Ian Garrow, Senior Waste Education Officer, Cumbria County Council explained, “On average each Cumbrian throws away around 7 times their body weight in rubbish every year, this campaign aims to significantly reduce that through re-using and recycling as much of our waste as possible. This may mean we think more carefully about simple things such as re-using shopping bags, setting up recycling boxes at home, composting and considering how we can re use certain products such as plastic bottles, jars etc.”
The children will also take centre stage at a celebratory final concert to be held at Rheged on June 24th, where they will get the opportunity to sing their song live to an audience, (a little like the X Factor tour) something they are very excited about.
Teacher  Alice Fisher, “The children have been working very hard and are looking forward to recording their song, and ultimately hearing it on the radio. They are also really excited about the performance at Rheged later in the month.”
Ian Garrow said, "The pupils that have taken part in this initiative have not only had the experience of a lifetime, but have realised the importance of reducing, re-using and recycling – an essential skill which will hopefully stay with them for a lifetime. I’m certain their excellent work and the awareness created by it will reduce what is sent to landfill this year."