Mermaids Purse Project

Project Background
The Mermaid’s Purse survey conducted in 1998 concluded that there was a lack of appropriate teaching materials about the UK coastline and that teachers need support in delivering the sustainable development and citizenship components of the new National Curriculum.

The survey also found that environmental and scientific organisations were looking for ways to widen their work and are looking to support initiatives that work with schools to reach young people.

Mermaid's Purse was developed to increase young people’s understanding, enjoyment and stewardship of coastal and marine environments in the North West of England. This project ran in partnership with the Partnership of Irish Sea Coast & Estuary Strategies. (PISCES) from May 2001 to September 2002, and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project is based at the Morecambe Bay Partnership offices in Kendal, Cumbria.

Project Objectives

• To build young people's action competence (understanding, skills, attitudes and self-confidence in decision-making) in relation to the coast

• To improve the opportunities for continuing professional development for teachers through a learner-centred accredited certificate course

• To develop the capacity of numerous stakeholders (government, private and voluntary sector organisations) so that they can better engage with local schools and support the delivery of the National Curriculum while furthering their own goals of sound coastal management

• To raise standards in schools by promoting activities and developing materials to support sustainable development education

• To support and train teachers and pupils in the development of an interactive website plus other materials and activities to help young people understand and engage in the issues surrounding sustainable use of the coasts

• To set up active long-term links between students, teachers and organisations concerned with coastal management and other environmental issues 

• To disseminate learning from the project through the production of a highly readable and informative handbook

Through this project LEF published a resourse pack entitled; Thinking on the Edge: Thinking activities to develop citizenship and environmental awareness around Morecambe Bay.

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