Nick is Sizewell C's Media Relations Manager
Fifteen students from Alde Valley Academy in Leiston are the first to be part of a new Sizewell C Youth Council, set up to give the nuclear power project further insight into the needs of young people in the local area.
The students, representing Years 7-11, get regular face time with Joint Managing Director, Julia Pyke, as well as other leaders on the project, with sessions aimed at giving the project an insight into local need and aspirations and the students regular access to the project.
The Youth Council were introduced to the project earlier this year, and last week thirteen of the new Council sat down with Julia Pyke for the second time, quizzed Site Delivery Director Damian Leydon about progress and plans on site, and discussed Sizewell C’s environmental ambitions with one of the project’s environmental leads, Dr Steve Mannings.
Julia Pyke, Sizewell C Joint Managing Director, said: “Consultation for big infrastructure projects can sometimes be skewed towards older people. We’re really keen to keep talking to young people as we develop Sizewell C. By the time we’ve built this project, these students will be in their twenties – and this will hopefully be the town they live in. It’s important for us to know what they think now, because we have to build a project that works for them in the future.”
Following the discussion at Sizewell C’s new project office at its Ancillary Construction Area (ACA) site in Leiston, the students were also given a tour of Wild Aldhurst, the first of Sizewell C’s nature reserves.
Rosie, Year 11, said: “I think its really important to give young people a voice. A lot of the time, in media, in politics, and in society in general, we don’t get as much of a say because of our age. So it’s good that we have been able to speak to Julia, Damian, Dr Mannings, and other people here about what we want to grow up with.”
Kate, Year 11, said: “We’ll probably have kids and grandkids that will be involved in this project, so it’s good that we can have a say now about what we want it to be. We’ve heard a lot about all the different considerations for a project like of this size, which is really useful to find out about.”
Sizewell C is creating thousands of new jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities for East Suffolk. It has allocated £250m in local funding, and once operational it is expected to contribute £40m a year to the local economy and employ 900 people in high-skilled, well-paid jobs.
Dan Mayhew, Director of Community and Partnerships, Kingfisher Schools Trust, said: “Young people in the area are very aware of the Sizewell C project and are keen to know what is going on. As with any project of this magnitude, they are exposed to views in the community about the potential impacts of the build and what should be done to mitigate those impacts. The collaboration between the school council and the Sizewell C senior team gives the young people a unique opportunity to have their views heard and have an input into the project.
“The meetings allow the students to appreciate that Sizewell C is really engaging with the school on a deeper level too, supporting the curriculum, providing enrichment opportunities and improving their access to the Arts and Technology.”
Sizewell C It is already working with organisations, including the University of Suffolk, to continue to understand the areas of special need in Leiston. It also works with numerous organisations across the region to ensure that the project reaches hard-to-reach groups. Recently, the project reaffirmed its commitment to Lowestoft with a new agreement with Access Community Trust.
Nick is Sizewell C's Media Relations Manager