Sunderland school scoops award for car camera idea

A 360 degree, in-car camera which will help car drivers capture evidence in the case of an accident, helped a Sunderland school scoop an award.

Pupils at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School, Washington came up with the idea for the Business Schools Challenge, which took place on the final day of this year’s Work Discovery Week (15 July).

Their proposal impressed the judges at the Stadium of Light. Eight schools took part in the challenge to create a new product or service.

Ideas ranged from an in-car breathalyser to a gadget which would allow battery charge to be transferred between devices to a healthy breakfast muffin for people on the go.

The runner-up prize was awarded to Southmoor Academy for their app, Intervice, which helped job hunters with a range of support services covering everything from what to do at an interview to what to wear.

The young people presented before a business panel which included representatives from day sponsor, Calsonic Kansei along with other Work Discovery Week sponsors from Gentoo, Unipres, University of Sunderland, Sunderland College, Northern Print Solutions, Make It Sunderland and the North East LEP.

The challenge was the final event in this year’s Work Discovery Week, with more than 1000 pupils having been involved across the week.

Work Discovery Week forms part of the year-long Work Discovery Sunderland programme which includes specific sector days and guest speaker days.