A Taste of the Far East for South West Students

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Oct 2009

Tomorrow, 9 October, the Sir Bernard Lovell School in South Gloucestershire will host the launch of this year's "Broadening Horizons" scheme, a project that provides eight schools around the South West with Taiwanese language assistants at no cost to the tax-payer.

The launch will bring together Taiwanese dignitaries, local politicians and businesspeople, and of course the children who are set to benefit from Chinese-Mandarin language lessons.

The scheme was originally piloted by language enthusiast Graham Watson MEP three years ago, and has since helped hundreds of children learn skills they may have otherwise missed out on.

Watson highlighted the benefits of the project for the young people involved;

"These children will enter the world of work at a very challenging time, so they need to be armed with the skills to succeed.

"China is the new global business power, so it is important that our young people have a good grasp of the language and culture. Broadening Horizons gives hundreds of children an exciting taste of this.

"What is best about this scheme is that it is funded entirely from generous donations, so it puts no strain on schools with already stretched budgets."

Notes to Editors:

All press are welcome to attend the event which will take place at the St Bernard Lovell School, Friday 9 October beginning at 10am.

The St Bernard Lovell School

North Street

Oldland Common

BS30 8TS

Further details can be obtained from Graham Watson's office on 01458 252265 or euro_office@cix.co.uk.

There are eight South West schools taking part this year will be;

Hayle Community School (Cornwall).

Penrice Community School (Cornwall).

Pilton Community College (Devon).

Kingsmead Community School (Somerset).

Huish Episcopi School (Somerset).

Sir John Colfox School (Dorset).

Sir Bernard Lovell School (Bristol).

The John Bentley School (Wiltshire).

In addition to these schools, this year will also see a Scottish School taking part;

Merchiston Castle School