COPA-DATA UK encourages young people to step out of their comfort zone
03/02/2015 COPA-DATA UK Ltd
Industrial software specialist, COPA-DATA UK, has made a donation to Pontypridd High School for a project described as unique and engaging by school inspectors. The funding has allowed 449 of Pontypridd's students to take part in 42 mountain walking trips since May 2013.COPA-DATA provides industrial software solutions for companies in the food and beverage, automotive, energy and pharmaceutical sectors. But as part of COPA-DATA's mission to encourage young people to step out of their comfort zones and learn in more challenging environments, the company offered the school funding to help get the project up and running.
The funding has helped Pontypridd High School source mountain walking equipment, such as walking boots, jackets, trousers, hats and gloves. So far, 42 groups of year seven, eight, nine and ten students have climbed a range of mountains since May 2013. Most trips include walking the largest mountain in South Wales and Southern England, Pen y Fan, as well as the spectacular Sgwd yr Eira (Falls of Snow) that has a footpath behind the waterfall.
COPA-DATA UK formed a relationship with the school after managing director, Martyn Williams was introduced to Pontypridd High School's outdoor pursuit instructor, Stephen Axe.
"We're more than grateful to COPA-DATA for helping Pontypridd High School fund this project," commented Stephen Axe, outdoor pursuit instructor of Pontypridd High School. "To have our mountain activities highlighted by experienced school inspectors was an achievement in itself. We couldn't have got this far without the funding.
"The trips have given our students the opportunity to learn about history, geography and wildlife in an extra-curricular way. We certainly wouldn't have been able to launch a project like this without the help of a community focused company like COPA-DATA."
"We noticed that Pontypridd High School was located amongst a large selection of mountains," commented Martyn Williams, managing director of COPA-DATA UK. "It was such a shame that the students didn't have the opportunity to get out there and see some of them because of a lack of funding.
"Here at COPA-DATA, we believe that young people learn more when they're educated in new and innovative ways. It's not enough to keep complaining about the skills shortage in our industry, we have to put our name out there and help education providers in any way we can. That way we will see the benefits.
"We are over the moon with the success of the project and hope to donate more funds to the school later on this year," he concluded.
For more information, please contact:
Martyn Williams
Managing Director
COPA-DATA UK Ltd
Merlin House
No. 1 Langstone Business Park
Newport
Gwent
NP18 2HJ
Tel: +44 1633 415338
Email: martyn.williams@copadata.co.uk
Web: www.copadata.com
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