Yard pledges backing for disadvantaged youngsters

May 7 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Yard pledges backing for disadvantaged youngsters

THE managing director of a shipyard was so impressed by a youngster at a Wirral special school he is offering to sponsor him – possibly into a job.

John Syvret, the MD of Northwestern Shiprepairers & Shipbuilders (NSL)based in Birkenhead’s famous Cammell Laird shipyard, approached the youngster’s school to see if he could help him.

Mr Syvret said he was impressed by the positive attitude of 15-year-old Peter Kearns during a visit to Observatory School in Bidston.

Earlier this year the Birkenhead yard announced it had won a £28m Ministry of Defence contract to overhaul Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Fort Rosalie, which will protect up to 350 jobs at the site.

The shipyard is due to take up the historic name of Cammell Laird this year which is expected to boost its international marketing.

The sponsorship announced yesterday will help Peter and other students at the school with their studies, buy equipment for school, buy the right clothing for work experience placements.

Peter Kearns will also be taken to the shipyard to see what the apprentice scheme there involves. Mr Syvret said: “Peter is a brilliant, enthusiastic and energetic young lad.

“He needs and deserves support, help and guidance to give him the best possible startin his adult life.

“He has a tremendous attitude and the work at Observatory School does an enormous amount of good helping him and other young people who really need it.”

The Observatory School, Bidston Village Road, Bidston, opened on the old Vyner Primary School site in September 2007.

It caters for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties with the aim of providing a secure, happy and stimulating learning environmen for them.

Observatory School headteacher Christine Royle said she was delighted to win NSL’s support for Peter as well as its Key Stage 4 Pathways Programme to help students into work.

She said: “Thanks to NSL’s generosity we can help support pupils into work through the Key Stage 4 Pathways Programme.”

liammurphy