COMPANIES are needing to invest a few hours to ‘make a difference’ partnering with primary schools for Bright Stars 2022

Just a few hours of supporting and mentoring primary school pupils taking part in the Bright Stars social enterprise competition can help develop their business ideas and excite them about business in South Cumbria.

That’s the message going out to companies and organisations in Barrow, Ulverston and Kendal from the Centre for Leadership Performance which needs more businesses to partner pupils at primary schools aiming to ‘make a profit & make a difference’ through the Bright Stars 2022 programme starting in May.

Local schools so far planning to take part include Cambridge Primary School and Victoria Academy in Barrow, Croftlands Infant and Nursery, Sir John Barrow Primary School, and St Mary’s Catholic Primary in Ulverston. But some could miss out unless more companies step up to support them.

Bright Stars was co-created in partnership with businesses nine years ago to nurture a culture of aspiration and enterprise amongst primary school pupils and it has been hugely successful with more than 1,500 pupils taking part last year. 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.

CforLP Executive Director Sarah Glass said: “The Bright Stars collaboration with Cumbrian businesses brings them closer to their local communities and the youngsters who are their future workforce. Businesses dedicate a few hours to support their partner schools – either online or face-to-face – to deliver huge benefits to the children and the businesses themselves. Their support also helps to  fund the programme, which is encouraging the leaders of tomorrow.”

Now in its tenth year, Bright Stars 2022 enables primary school pupils across Cumbria to run their own mini social enterprise and ‘make a difference’ to something that matters to them. Local MPs Tim Farron and Simon Fell are both backing the scheme and supporting schools taking part.

The programme generates support and funding from across Cumbria, including Cumbria Community Foundation, and Sellafield Ltd and BAE Systems which encourage 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, our wide range of business partners ensure we build leadership, career aspirations and entrepreneurship from a young age.

Businesses can learn how they can support Bright Stars and what they gain by visiting www.cforlp.org.uk/programmes/bright-stars-primary/ or contacting claire.johnson@cforlp.org.uk.