On Monday (1st March) we had our online launch event for the Green Influencers Scheme on Dream Big at Home. Elaine our new Green Mentor explained what Green Influencers is all about, we talked about the climate emergency and what local action we can take. Then we all made a recycled turtle. And they were all brilliant!
The event was a big success with lots of young people from all over the country attending virtually as well as local groups and group leaders and other Green Mentors in the North (from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Prospect, St Nicks, the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Youth Work Unit, Oaklea Trust). We are really excited to get started and work with our local Woodcraft Folk Groups as well as the Coop Academies, Hyde Park Source, All Hallows, IntoUniversity the Canal and River Trust and other local youth groups.
Green Influencers is a youth led project that aims to help young people realise their potential to positively impact the environment through youth social action. We will be supporting groups of young people (10-14 years) in Leeds and Bradford to plan and run green social projects in 2021 and 2022. Young people will learn new skills and gain experience and confidence as they take action on the issues important to them. Activities can also be part of them gaining Duke of Edinburgh or John Muir awards. There is funding of £350-£5000 available for the projects and all types of community/charity/sport/religious youth groups and school groups can get involved.
The Green Influencers Scheme is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and the Department of Culture, Media & Sport are each investing £25 million seed funding to create the #iwill Fund. The Ernest Cook Trust is acting as a match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund.
Please get in contact with Elaine Brown elaine.brown@woodcraft.org.uk for more information or fill in this form to sign up your group. If you don’t live in Leeds or Bradford please look at this map to find your local green influencers scheme in England.