Footprints will involve a cutting edge, interactive performance and a subsequent participatory workshop utilising innovative forum theatre and role play techniques. The performance will highlight the reasons we should respect and enjoy the environment and inspire children to make a positive contribution to their community and the climate change agenda. The workshop will enable children to learn about the effects of global warming and environmental issues, examine the impact an individual person’s decisions make on the environment and explore ways in which the children and their family are able to reduce their global footprint. The consumer power of children is growing in importance as they represent a primary market that purchases its own products and services; an influential market that directs parental expenditures; and a future market. Footprints will bring about lasting change in children’s attitudes and behaviour in relation to the environment; encouraging an appreciation and enjoyment of the world around them and equipping them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will encourage them to develop ecological thinking and adopt environmentally responsible approaches. The programme will reach approximately 1500 children over a four week tour (or greater numbers depending on funding). The tour will specifically target schools in the most disadvantaged areas of South Yorkshire where inclusive arts based learning activities can most benefit social development and pupil attainment and where economic, social and cultural obstacles limit children’s participation in theatre and the arts. Footprints has been designed through evaluation of children’s feedback from previous tours and extensive community consultation with schools, key local education authority staff, and voluntary and community groups across the region – reacting to the actual need and demand in target disadvantaged communities. Footprints will bring about the following benefits to participating children, schools and the wider community:  empowers children through developing choice-making skills and promotes the expression of opinions, ideas and feelings and moreover, autonomy; - measurable gains in learning outcomes such as emotional literacy, awareness, speaking and listening and stimulates co-operation, teamwork, and greater participation in the classroom; - offers many children their first experience of storytelling, theatre and live performance; - enables children to recognise impact on the environment, apply this in their decisions and understand the personal and social gains from acting responsibly; - develops socially responsible leaders of the future who are more likely to advocate positive environmental decisions in their everyday and working lives. The average household in the UK generates 26.32 tonnes of carbon each year. If each child alters their own behaviour and influences the decisions of the their family to the extent of a 5% carbon reduction per household then the project will result in 1974 tonnes less carbon being released into the environment – equivalent to over 1750 fewer cars on the road each year. (Source: www.carbonfootprint.com) “Many teachers, parents and support staff have benefited personally from Point Blank training programmes. Working with Point Blank is always a pleasure. The company’s approach is very professional – always seeking ways of working with partners to provide truly enjoyable and challenging learning experiences” (Margaret Booth – Director, South East Sheffield Education Action Zone)