Dauntsey’s School announces Richard Sandbrook Award Winners for 2017

Dauntsey’s has announced the winners of the 2017 Richard Sandbrook Award. 

The judging committee decided to split the Award between two applicants:

Charlotte Wilks (current Upper Sixth pupil) for her project ‘A study of the former Inner German border with the aim of creating a cross-curricular teaching resource for Key Stage 2 pupils’.

Charlie’s bid is to create a teaching resource inspired by the land along the path of the former Inner German Border, known as the ‘Iron Curtain Trail’.

The impact of the division of Germany proved valuable for the survival of wildlife, as the land traversed by the fence, barbed wire and mine fields was untouched by human development for 38 years. This meant that some 600 species, which were previously threatened with extinction, were left to thrive.

Charlie plans to spend 2018 working as a teaching assistant in Bavaria. Her aim is to cycle part of the trail and develop fluency in German, which will enable her to understand the museum exhibits and information centres along the route. She will then create a resource for teachers covering a range of topics such as 20th Century history, biodiversity and conservation. This resource will raise awareness of environmental issues and environmentally sustainable development among primary school children.

Charlotte Colquhoun (Old Dauntseian 2009-2014) for her project ‘Bolivia CIWY – helping make sustainable development sustainable.’

Lottie applied for funding for a two-month volunteering project in Bolivia with Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY). This is an organisation made up of teams of young professionals and volunteers working together to ensure the protection of wildlife and raise awareness for the conservation of the Bolivian ecosystem.

During her stay, she will take part in duties such as cleaning, building, educating local communities, helping to rehabilitate the animals and more.

James O’Hanlon, Head of Careers, who promotes the Sandbrook Award at Dauntsey’s, said: “There were six very strong bids for the Award this year. After much discussion, the Committee and the Sandbrook family felt that the two winning bids each presented a unique opportunity to promote sustainable development in a creative and impactful way. We look forward to hearing about their programmes next year.”

The Sandbrook Award was established by the Old Dauntseians Association in 2009 to commemorate the work of former pupil Richard Sandbrook, OBE (1946-2005) who was the co-founder of Friends of the Earth.

The award is open to current Sixth Form pupils at Dauntsey's and Old Dauntseians, aged 18-25 and is aimed at anyone who is planning a trip, project or research which promotes sustainable development in some shape or form. Applications may involve existing or new projects, study or research, and can be anywhere in the world regarding any area of sustainable development.

Photograph shows: Charlie Wilks, Upper Sixth Pupil at Dauntsey’s who is a joint winner of the 2017 Richard Sandbrook Award

Dauntsey's is a leading co-educational boarding and day school for 11-18 year olds.