College vows to give peace a chance

PEACE pledge signing at Oldham Sixth Form College, from left, principal Jayne Clarke, Emma Hart, OSFC assistant director for inclusion, and the Mayor, Councillor Derek Heffernan. Front is Maria Ellis, chairman of Peace Talks Oldham

STUDENTS and staff at Oldham Sixth Form College became the first college in the town to sign up to a more peaceful future.

Principal Jayne Clark was joined by the country's only 'Mayor of Peace' councillor Derek Heffernan, the current Mayor of Oldham, to sign a pledge to peace.

By signing the pledge, the college has committed to taking action and putting projects in place which promote peace across the borough.

Jayne Clark said: "It's really important to promote peace as part of education, and I hope we are just the first college of many who will sign up to the pledge."

The pledge was signed in front of citizenship students who viewed a touring Playing for Peace exhibition, loaned by Peace Centre Bradford, before listening to a talk by Maria Ellis, chairman of Peace Talks Oldham.

Ms Ellis said: "It's wonderful that the college has signed up. It's really important to get this age group on board so they can promote peace among friends and colleagues."