News release: Summer fun and some hard work too

Abstract

Local school children have been having the time of their lives this week and getting a
taste of student life at the U-Can @Uclan Summer School held at the Uni versity of
Central Lancashire.
Pupils from schools in Barrow may have started the week as strangers, but by the time
they leave on Friday, it's fai rly certain that they' ll join students from previous summer
schools in exchanging mobile numbers and signing each other's t-shi rrs(
Youngsters from Alfred Banow School, Ehenside School and Whitehaven School have
al ready enjoyed a week of universi ty life, staying in the halls of residence at the Preston
Campus in July. Now it's the turn of pupils from Millom, Thorncliffe, Parkview and
Walney Schools, who'll get to sample workshops run by University staff and students,
take part in the social activities on offer and make friends with young people from
Preston and Burn ley schools, who' ll be attending on a daily basis.
The Uni versity has been running its successful summer school programme since 2000.
Acti vities on offer include workshops on journalism, sound enginee1ing/production,
space science, Spanish language and culture, art, websi te building and motorsports
amongst many others. Evening events are just as varied and include Bollywood
dancing, self defence, paint the community, footbal l, dance and drama. And if that
doesn't tire them out, the youngsters can also go bowling, watch films and join in other
soci a! activities.
The summer schools are aimed at pupils aged between 12 and 16, mainly from socioeconomic
backgrounds which are traditionally under-represented in higher education.
The hope is to raise the aspirations of the young people who attend and to encourage
them to consider higher education in the future.
"We're really proud of this aspect of Uni versity li fe", says Lynne Duckworth, Director
of Advancement, the department which organi ses the summer school. "We know that
we are making a difference to the lives of many of these young people as well as giving
them a week to remember!"
5 August 2003
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