STAFF working for a Sellafield-based company have educated youngsters on plastic pollution and the effects on the environment during a national safety week.

October 3-6 was KAEFER UK & Ireland Safety Week and as part of the safety week staff had key focus topics, including the environment.

A team of KAEFER employees (Lauren Allan, Kieran Bennett, Paul Carter, Ryan Dickinson, Dale McGlaughlin, Shannon McGregor and Elizabeth Atkinson) volunteered to carry out manual labour to assist with some ground works activities at the Good Lives project which is part of the Skills 4 You project, on Wednesday October 6..

They spent time digging preparing areas for the growing of fruit and vegetables that the learners will grow and take care of.

Lauren said: “We really enjoyed getting our hands dirty and helping out, Angela McGlaughlin from the Good Lives project showed us the polytunnel which they utilise to grow different vegetables- they even gave us some home grown spinach for our efforts.”Whitehaven News: Staff from KAEFER assisted with some ground works activities at the Good Lives project which is part of the Skills 4 You Staff from KAEFER assisted with some ground works activities at the Good Lives project which is part of the Skills 4 You (Image: KAEFER)

On Thursday, October 6, staff spent the morning with Mayfield School students. They delivered a presentation on plastic pollution and the importance of recycling and the effects of not doing so on the environment and the wildlife.

This was followed by a litter pick in the school grounds with the students. The students were engaging and really enjoyed the activities.

Whitehaven News: KAEFER staff with pupils from Kells Infant SchoolKAEFER staff with pupils from Kells Infant School (Image: KAEFER)The team spent the afternoon with Year Two pupils from Kells Infant School, carrying out a plastic pollution presentation.

They then carried out a litter pick with 30 pupils on Kells Welfare and the Kells playpark. They collected eight bin bags full of rubbish.Whitehaven News: KAEFER staff and pupils from Kells Infant School carried out a litter pick in Kells Welfare KAEFER staff and pupils from Kells Infant School carried out a litter pick in Kells Welfare (Image: KAEFER)

Lauren said: “The children were fantastic and really got involved with the litter pick, telling us how they enjoyed cleaning up the play area for their siblings and friends.

“We took along three new apprentices who got really involved with the activities and engaged well with the pupils. Special thank you to the KAEFER site based operatives who came along in the afternoon to help with the litter pick.”