Two weeks to go ...

SFM has just produced the next press release in the countdown to Grey Court's appearance on People's Millions. Look out for updates here and don't forget to vote on Tuesday 23 November!

TWO WEEKS TO GO!

Countdown to Grey Court's Community Chickens

Only two weeks to go before students at Grey Court School appear on ITV London News in the finals of The People’s Millions. On Tuesday 23 November Grey Court Community Chickens will go head-to-head with another London-based project to win enough public votes and secure funding.

Grey Court’s head teacher Maggie Bailey says, ‘This project will benefit everyone, improving things for the children and building links within our community. But,in the words of Louis Walsh – “We need your votes”. We are up against some stiff opposition so remember 23 November and vote-vote-vote!’.

Local residents are being encouraged to get behind the project and this weekend came along to Ham Library to talk to the project organizers. Guests of honour were three lovely hens kindly escorted by a local enthusiast.

ITV will soon be visiting the school to make a short film about the project. The film will be aired on ITV London News at 6pm on 23 November.

But Grey Court will not be waiting until transmission to get voting. The school will be mobilizing its chicken team as soon as the magic phone number is released in the early edition of the Daily Mirror and will be working hard all day to get as many people to call from 9am until the lines close at midnight.

The result of the head-to-head will be broadcast on ITV London News on Wednesday 24 November.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Please vote! To help Grey Court Community Chickens win funding please vote by phone between 9am and midnight on Tuesday 23 November 2010. The voting phone number will be advertised on www.peoplesmillions.org.uk/2010-finalists/london/grey-court-community-chickens and in the Daily Mirror on the day.

Grey Court Community Chickens will feature in a short film on Tuesday 23 November on the ITV regional news between 6.00pm and 6.30pm.

Grey Court School is at Ham Street, Ham, Richmond TW10 7HN. Grey Court plans to keep free-range hens in secure enclosures on the school grounds with students setting up an egg selling enterprise. Nearby primary schools can have equipment to hatch, rear and keep their own chicks, giving them a wonderful opportunity to experience the whole animal life cycle. Primary school chickens will be able to stay at the Grey Court ‘hen hotel’ in the holidays, cared for by the part-time poultry keeper who will also teach students and local people about all aspects of chicken keeping. Local families can get involved with the opportunity to board some of these chickens in the holidays.

Grey Court opened its community allotment in July 2010 and the community chickens are the next stage in plans to set up a small school farm. Keeping chickens is an easy and exciting way to start, by encouraging students to learn about caring for animals and producing fresh, local food.

School Food Matters campaigns for fresh sustainable food in schools and for children to understand where their food comes from. To achieve SFM listens to schools, parents and children. Together they urge local authorities to improve school meals and to support food education through cooking, growing and links with local farms.

The People's Millions is a partnership between Big Lottery Fund and ITV, where the public decides which local community projects get up to £50,000 of Lottery funding. http://www.peoplesmillions.org.uk/2010-finalists/london/grey-court-community-chickens