A University of Bath student is one of 12 young campaigners on a mission to change the world, in a web and television project screened by Channel 4.
As part of the award-winning Battlefront project, Alex Loughlin is running a nationwide campaign to encourage people to get to know their neighbours, called Meet Your Street.
The 21-year-old psychology student was selected to head the campaign in July. His progress over the nine month campaign is being screened on the Channel 4 Battlefront website, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
As part of the initiative, and to enter into the spirit of Halloween, Alex is encouraging students to enter the Pass the Pumpkin competition this Friday as a way to meet their neighbours.
The idea is for students to buy and decorate a pumpkin and drop it off at the Pass on a Pumpkin stall on the Parade on Friday (29 October) between 12 noon and 5.30pm. Pumpkins will be inspected by a celebrity judge, who will choose a winner at 5.30pm. The winner will receive a free meal for four friends at Nando’s. There are also 10 runners-up prizes for grabs: tickets for the Halloween Theory Special at Elements nightclub.
Then, students are encouraged to take their pumpkin, knock on a neighbour’s door in their street and pass it on to them as a Halloween treat, taking a picture which can be posted on Alex’s Facebook page.
Alex said: “I’m campaigning to bring neighbourhoods together. I want students to meet their street and see the benefits it has on breaking down prejudices, lowering crime and creating a real sense of community.”
Battlefront is in its second series; series one won an International Emmy Award and was nominated for two BAFTAs.
Alex plans to follow up the inititative with a Pass on a Pie event at Christmas.