Cat Eccles, MP for Stourbridge, Brierley and Netherton, when to visit pupils at Ham Dingle Primary School in Stourbridge on Thursday 5 March, to help celebrate World Book Day with the students and teachers. During her visit she discovered that they have been busy creating an innovative blanket called ‘The Crips Packet Project’, using recycled snack wrappers, combining creativity, sustainability and compassion for those in need.

The pupil leadership team came up with the idea in November 2025, having noticed a lot of crisp packets in school rubbish bins and one of the teaching assistants, Kerry Percox, helped the students research the project and bring it to life. The pupils collected used wrappers from crisps, tortilla chips and popcorn from across the school community. Each wrapper was carefully opened, cleaned and ironed onto recycled mattress packaging with a heat-retaining foil backing, creating a practical and visually striking blanket that could help someone experiencing homelessness.

The first blanket from ‘The Crisp Packet Project’ was created in February and four pupils showcased their work yesterday at a conference at St Anne’s College, Oxford, presenting their work alongside projects from other schools in United Learning, the UK’s largest academy trust. The event gave pupils the opportunity to share their ideas, meet other young people from across the Trust and experience a university environment designed to raise aspirations for the future.

Cat Eccles MP said:
“It was fantastic to visit Ham Dingle and see the incredible blanket the pupils have created from recycled snack wrappers. Not only is it a brilliant example of creativity and teamwork, but it also shows a real awareness of the challenges some people face.

“The pupils should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved. Their project highlights the importance of recycling, community spirit and thinking about how we can support others. I wish them every success when they present their work in Oxford.”

Andrew Tilley, Headteacher at Ham Dingle Primary School, said:
“I am incredibly proud of the pupils for the creativity and teamwork they have shown. They have taken everyday materials and turned them into something meaningful that could help someone in need.

“The opportunity to present their work at St Anne’s College, Oxford will be a fantastic experience for them and an exciting chance to meet pupils from other schools and see what studying at a university might be like.”

ENDS

Photos attached: Cat Eccles MP holding up ‘The Crisp Packet’ blanket from recycled snack wrappers and Andrew Tilley to celebrate World Book Day