Young activists such as Greta Thunberg and Isra Hirsi inspire us all with their tenacity and passion, but we all need to play our part to support them and amplify their voices. That’s why we were so delighted to join 40 other organisations nationally in the Ernest Cook “Green Influencers” scheme to support young people aged 10-14 years to make a difference to our local community and our environment. The project started in January 2021 and will run to June 2023, and we have been working with young people all over York for over two years now.
Over 120 young environmental activists in York are at the forefront of youth social action projects for the environment, benefitting schools and communities in the area. Young people decide what type of project they would like to do, including things like planting trees, sowing wildflowers, litter picking, campaigning or tackling waste and recycling. Together, they will turn words into actions to protect and enhance the local environment and tackle climate change.
Supported by our Green Mentor, Freya Lovett, young people learn new skills and gain experience and confidence as they take on the social and environmental issues important to them. They are helped to form meaningful connections with the natural environment and each other through fun outdoor activities as a positive way of powering change.
The pioneering Green Influencers Scheme is a project match-funded through the #iWillFund from The National Lottery Community Fund and Department of Culture, Media & Sport which are each investing £25million seed funding to support young people to access high-quality social action opportunities.
If you are a young person, parent, teacher or work in a relevant organisation interested in getting involved in the Green Influencers Scheme, please contact freya@stnicks.org.uk.
For information about the Green Influencers Scheme visit The Ernest Cook Trust website.
