HOW To Make Poverty History is the title of the first ever conference for sixth formers in Worcestershire run by the University of Birmingham's prestigious International Development Department.

It will be led by the director of the IDD, Dr Paul Jackson, and senior lecturer Dr Heather Marquette, both of whom are frequently engaged as advisers to the UK and foreign governments and to agencies, including the UN and NGOs such as Oxfam, on global issues.

Dr Jackson said: "World poverty is a global threat to all of us on a par with climate change. The IDD is delighted to have the opportunity to lead this conference. I believe we can give participants a unique insight into a matter of vital importance to sixth formers, and help them understand what each of them can do to stave off a disaster affecting the whole world."

The conference takes place on Wednesday, July 11, at Worcester Sixth Form College, and about 150 students are expected to attend. It has been organised by Beacons, the Malvern-based charity that promotes education about development matters.

For the second half of the afternoon, the Birmingham University presenters will be joined by Ebrima Joof, principal of the Armitage Senior High School in The Gambia and Maya Segas, of Oxfam, for an Any Questions panel with questions from students formulated during the previous discussion groups.

Steve Jones, of Worcestershire County Council, said: "We welcome this initiative by Beacons, believing it and the subsequent conferences planned for other parts of the county will make a vital contribution to understanding by sixth formers of one of the greatest challenges facing the world in the years and decades ahead."

Worcester Sixth Form College principal John Tredwell said: "We are very pleased to be hosting such a prestigious conference on a subject of enormous importance to everyone and especially to sixth formers."

David Terry, the volunteer Beacons organiser, said: "We feel very excited by this event, a result of our partnership with Birmingham's IDD, and believe it will make a lasting impression on the students."