J&B News & Updates

08.05.26

Recently, we had the opportunity to support Catcote Futures, a SEND provision for post-19 learners in Hartlepool, as part of their Careers Week.

We’ve worked with Catcote Futures for a number of years now, and it’s a partnership we value. Alongside supporting initiatives such as their Trashion Show, one of their students also attends J&B Recycling on a weekly basis, gaining experience within our office by supporting with tasks such as scanning and shredding. Providing opportunities like this is something that’s really important to us.

As Catcote Academy’s Careers Business Champion, we set the students a challenge to create a marketing campaign focused on why recycling matters and the importance of protecting the environment.

Introducing Recycling and the Journey of Waste

The challenge was introduced on Monday morning, giving students the full week to plan and develop their ideas.

To support this, we delivered a session on J&B Recycling, explaining what we do as a business -from collecting waste to processing and separating materials at our MRF. A video of the recycling process was shared to help bring this to life, alongside an overview of how marketing plays a role within the business.

The students were really engaged from the start. Some had previously visited our facility, which helped build that connection, while others were clearly interested to learn more about what happens to waste after they put it in the recycling bin.

Supporting Campaign Development Through the Week

The students were given the freedom to choose how they wanted to present their campaign, with options including videos, storybooks, presentations sensory videos and more.

We returned to the college on Thursday alongside Jackie McGarry, Careers Advisor at Catcote Academy, and Sharon Birch, Safeguarding Officer at safeguarding Network who supported the students with storytelling - from developing ideas and using their imagination to structuring their campaigns and bringing them together.

Across the classes, students presented a wide range of work, all centred around recycling and sustainability.

Showcasing Creative Approaches to Recycling

The work produced across the week was impressive, with each class taking a different approach to the challenge.

One group borrowed litter picking kits from J&B Recycling and carried out a litter pick around the college, before creating a song and music video based on their experience. You can watch the video here 

Another group created a sensory video using lighting and waste materials to show the impact of rubbish entering the ocean, creating an immersive piece of content.

A different class wrote and illustrated a story about a character who didn’t recycle but eventually changed their behaviour showing that anyone can make a positive difference.

Each project demonstrated both creativity and a strong understanding of the environmental importance of recycling.

Judging the Campaigns and Celebrating Every Student

Alongside Jackie McGarry, we reviewed each project based on creativity and teamwork.

The students presented with confidence and enthusiasm, which made the judging particularly difficult. The standard across all groups was so high that selecting a single winner didn’t feel appropriate.

Instead, every group was recognised for their work and awarded a certificate - a reflection of the effort and engagement shown throughout the week.

Supporting SEND Learners Through Education and Real-World Experience

Experiences like this help to make recycling more accessible, while also supporting the development of confidence, creativity and teamwork skills.

“It was great to see how engaged the students were throughout the week. The ideas they came up with were really creative, and it showed how important it is to make recycling something people can understand and connect with.” Isobel Hnaley, Marketing Coordinator, J&B Recycling

“The students showed fantastic creativity and teamwork. It was brilliant to see them bring their ideas together and present them so confidently.” Jackie McGarry, Careers Advisor at Catcote Academy

At J&B Recycling, we’re passionate about supporting our local community and helping to educate future generations on sustainability. Working with Catcote Futures is always a valuable experience, and something we’re proud to be part of.