Consumer Press Releases
Bridgend pupils are top draw in national poster competition
20th June 2008
Local girls, Beth Eales and Becky Page both from West Park Primary School in Bridgend have beaten off competition from thousands of children around the UK with their winning entries in an electrical safety poster design competition. Beth scooped first prize in the UK-wide competition earning her £500 for her school as well as a prize for herself; while Becky won the innovative design award for her poster winning an additional £100 for the school and a prize for herself.
The poster design competition, themed around electrical safety in your home, was part of a national campaign by consumer safety charity, the Electrical Safety Council to educate children about using electricity safely.
Beth and Becky were presented with their prizes by children’s television presenter Kirsten O’Brien at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live exhibition, where their posters were on display for the thousands of visitors attending the show.
Kirsten, who presents children's art show SMart said, “These pictures are wonderful and the level of entries is really impressive. I’m encouraged when I look at the way in which the children have demonstrated their understanding of the electrical dangers around the home and incorporated them into their designs so creatively."
The judges chose Beth’s poster as the regional winner for Wales and overall UK winner, beating the other regional winners from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, because they thought the poster was very effective at getting the safety messages across through the use of the UK standard ‘prohibited’ sign. These red circles make the images bold, powerful and eye catching.
Becky was presented with the innovative design award for her clever ‘snakes and ladders’ themed design which the judges agreed was very well thought out. Using the concept of the popular board game, she promoted positive electrical safety message with ladders and highlighted negative electrical hazards with snakes.
One of the judges, Baroness Jenny Tonge whose own daughter was killed in an electrical accident at home said, "The standard of the entries was quite brilliant, but the winner had all the ingredients to get the message across." She added, "It is so important that people understand the dangers of electricity and I am thrilled that primary school children are taking this work so seriously.”
The winning posters are on display on the Electrical Safety Council’s children’s website, www.switchedonkids.org.uk www.switchedonkids.org.uk
