YOUNGSTERS at York schools look set to benefit from two new green initiatives being launched today.

The projects, called Bright Futures and the Science City York Green Energy Challenge, aim to promote sustainability in York primary and secondary schools.

Bright Futures aims to help ten primary schools in York to increase their knowledge of sustainable development by various means which include staging an eco-musical or buying energy-efficient light bulbs.

The schools involved are Derwent, Carr Infants, Dunnington, Archbishop of York CE Juniors, Park Grove, Tang Hall, St Oswald’s CE, Ralph Butterfield, Headlands and St Wilfrid’s RC.

All ten schools will each receive £100, funded jointly by City of York Council and Science City York, to cover the costs of resources and aid with the projects development.

The second project, The Science City York Green Energy Challenge, gives secondary schools the opportunity to enhance their understanding of sustainability.

This project, unlike Bright Futures, which is intended to involve the entire school, aspires to give five teams of Year Eight pupils in each participating school the chance to develop their ideas for tackling climate change.

The students will be able to work with local industry and business experts for advice and guidance in setting out their research and proposed solution, as well as planning their budget and marketing their concept. Science City York is providing all ten of York’s secondary schools with £100 for up to five teams from each school.

Those taking part are Millthorpe, Applefields, Manor CE, York High, Canon Lee, Archbishop Holgate’s CE, Huntington, Joseph Rowntree, Fulford and All Saints RC.

In developing the schemes, City of York Council and Science City York teamed up with the North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership, NYBEP.