CHILDREN staged a celebration event which demonstrated the host of new skills they have learnt through a summer programme.

Some 90 children from different have been developing their leadership and teamwork skills, and building confidence, by being part of Furness Future Leaders' scheme.

The three week programme, founded by Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, has been full of challenges and activities at Furness College. They also worked in four teams, local campaigners, global campaigners, communicators and event managers.

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The local campaigner group promoted the work of Barrow Foodbank and encouraging people to donate food and money to the charity.

The group made a food collection for the Barrow Foodbank at the final celebration event on Thursday, which was attended by families and people from the local community. The group had also raised more than £175 for the charity.

The global campaigners made a film presentation on their ecology project 'Happy Bees Please'.

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The educational lead for the project was Janet Dixon, headteacher of Barrow Island Primary School, who said: "I am honoured to have been involved in such an inspiring project for the last two years with my team from Barrow Island and Cumbria Development Education Centre. The children can be very proud of what they have achieved in the last three weeks and if they can build on these skills as they move up to secondary school they will have an excellent future ahead of them."

"Maisie Grainger, 10, of Victoria Academy and the communicators, said: "I was a scriptwriter for the celebration event and was one of a team of four who had to introduce the speakers and present the work of my group. I’ve learnt how to communicate with your team and speak for them."

Logan Clarke, 10 of Barrow Island Primary School and the managers, said: "I think I’m more sensible now. You get to meet more people, have fun and you learn a lot too. My favourite activity was bubble football."

Katie Whalley, 10, of South Walney Junior School and the global campaigners, said: "At first it was quite nerve-wracking because there was only one other person from my school in this group. But I’ve made some brilliant new friends and will keep in touch with them.

I’ve learnt that being a good leader doesn’t mean bossing other people, it means how to lead others and be a good follower.’

Jake Parr, 10 of St Paul's CE Junior School and the local campaigners, said: "I’m more confident about working with people I don’t know and I think I’ll be better at teamwork activities when I go back to school. It was fun learning how we can help the foodbank and being able to do a presentation at the celebration event."

In a video message played at the celebration event, Mr Woodcock said: "I hope that the skills that you have learnt through these last three weeks will really help you in your final year of primary school and beyond. Thank you to everyone who has made this event possible, and once again to the sponsors who have given so generously with money and help in kind. Most of all thank you to the staff who have done such a brilliant job."