As the world gears up for COP26, the Green Influencers scheme has reached a milestone by recruiting 1,500 young people committed to environmental social action.
Woodcraft Folk’s Green Influencers
Woodcraft Folk is one of the 37 host organisations involved in the project, which is led by the Ernest Cook Trust. Green Mentor Elaine Brown has recruited 90 young people as Green Influencers across Leeds and Bradford. Nine months into the two-year project, there are now 1,500 Green Influencers across the UK, and the scheme is on target to enlist 5,000 young people between the ages of 10 and 14 by the end of the project.
“Our Green Influencers in Leeds and Bradford are an inspirational group of young people from many different backgrounds,” said Elaine. “They’ve got many different interests and concerns, but they’ve all approached the project with bags of enthusiasm. Their social action projects have ranged from investigating air pollution in their neighbourhood to interviewing a local MP about COP26.”
COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference is starting on October 31. World leaders will gather in Glasgow to discuss global climate issues. The Green Influencers scheme is demonstrating how young people are already trying to make a difference by getting engaged with their environment and improving their communities. The scheme is a project match-funded through the #iwill Fund which is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Department of Culture, Media & Sport. Each of which are investing £27million seed funding to support young people to access high-quality social action opportunities.
In the past 12 months in Leeds and Bradford there are/have been Woodcraft Folk Green Influencer-led projects in;
- Rosebank Primary School (Burley),
- Co-op Academy Nightingale (Harehills),
- Richmond Hill Academy (Richmond Hill),
- IntoUniversity Leeds East (Harehills)
- IntoUniversity Leeds South (Beeston)
- Co-op Academy Grange (Bradford)
The pioneering scheme has been match-funded through the #iwill Fund, which is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Department of Culture, Media & Sport, which are each investing £27million seed funding to support young people to access high-quality social action opportunities.
“What’s significant about the Green Influencers Scheme is the reach it has, and we are thrilled to be on course to enlisting 5,000 young people. The enthusiasm of those involved is inspiring, and we have been so impressed with their ideas and their creativity. We are very grateful to the Green Mentors for the guidance they are giving,” said Victoria Edwards, Chief Executive of the Ernest Cook Trust. “While the world talks about climate change, the young people of our country are getting out there and making a difference.”
For information about the Green Influencers Scheme visit The Ernest Cook Trust website or email greeninfluencers@ernestcooktrust.org.uk.
