4 Island Schools are in their final stages of preparation for the 2016 Be Your Best Rock Challenge and J Rock events, which will take place at the O2 Guildhall Southampton from Monday (22nd February).
After 21 years as a registered charity, the Be Your Best Foundation continue to successfully produce Rock Challenge events all across the UK. Whilst the primary goal of these events remains to encourage young people to make positive life choices and be their best without the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, regularly conducted evaluations show proven and evidenced benefits above and beyond these original objectives.
The Rock Challenge events are universally inclusive with secondary schools, colleges, academies, schools catering for students with special needs and independent schools from all backgrounds taking part. Schools from across the county enter in September and next week’s event is the culmination of their hard work.
Gurnard Primary School enter the J Rock competition for the first time in 2016 and the teachers and students involved will have worked hard to introduce and establish the initiative.
2016 celebrates the 5th year Lanesend Primary School have been involved in the event and they have created their piece on the much-loved story of ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ to bring to the Southampton show. Lanesend Primary received National recognition last year for their piece about the Selfish Giant as they were nominated for two National Awards. These National Awards are judged against all of the junior teams across Scotland, the South and North of England and Lanesend were nominated in the following categories: Concept and Entertainment.
Haylands Primary School and Newchurch Primary School also take part in the competition next week, performing on stage on Thursday.
Vice Chair of the Be Your Best Foundation Mervyn Bishop MBE is looking forward to the 2016 Dream Big-Shine Bright Tour:
”I am looking forward and proud to be involved in the Rock Challenge 2016 UK Tour, this being my 20th year. Year after year I continue to be astounded by the young people who take part and fill the stage with creativity, drama, colour and sometimes literally a hundred of them performing their very best.
“Over the years I have worked with and supported many youth programmes, I still believe this is the very best. It empowers teams of young people to be their best, without the need for any artificial stimulants, alcohol or tobacco. The Rock Challenge builds characters and confidence and provides young people with a range of ‘life skills’ to support their progression into employment, education and some enterprise. Most of all it provides the young people with an experience they will never forget”
