Embedding Environmental Responsibility into Our Work with Young People
Date Created: 2nd Oct 2024
Share this:
Wellbeing Garden – Arun Young Changemakers
One of our changemaker groups in Arun developed and led a brief for a Community Youth Garden in Bognor Regis. This garden was designed by the changemakers to not only provide young people with a third place to socialise with one-another, but also to exist and thrive alongside nature. A third place is somewhere that is not home (the first place) or school/work (the second place), and is a place for people to spend time relaxing and spending time with their community. The could be described as ‘the communities living room’. The plot of land, located behind the Phoenix Community Centre, was a bare and disused space littered with rubbish; not somewhere that nature or young people could thrive.
To transform this space, the changemakers worked with local gardener GD Hurren Landscapes to plant a sensory garden of grasses and wildflowers that would support pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. A bin was installed to prevent the previous litter problem, and a new wildlife pond was added to introduce frogs, newts and insects to support the gardens ecosystem.
Our extensive consultation with young people has shown us that spending time outdoors is something that young people consider to be supportive to their mental wellbeing. We have also found that many young people suffer from climate anxiety, so creating the Bognor Community Youth Garden has benefits for the environment, young people, and the community. Read more about this project…
Eco Fashion – EKC college Dover
To address climate anxiety of young people locally, Changemakers at EKC Dover College created a runway full of upcycled garment with Eco Fashion Artist Eirinn Hayhow. Eirinn’s practice explores the use of second hand and natural materials (including flowers, coffee, and moss) to create unique fashion pieces. Together, Eirinn and the changemakers created a runway of unique garments made from reworked charity shop clothing and scrap material.
Through their work, the changemakers explored themes of nature and environmental sustainability. They learnt about the impact of the fast fashion industry and the harm that plastics and dyes used in the materials that make our clothes can cause.
To celebrate this project, the changemakers hosted a showing for the artwork and garments they created. This included a fashion show runway through the centre of town, and a private viewing in a gallery space, where they celebrated with friends, family, teachers, and local organisations with food and drink. Read more about this project…
Environment Animations – Slough
During year 1 of our Young Cultural Changemakers programme in Slough, consultation revealed that young people are being affected by climate anxiety, meaning that they experience worries about their local environment and global climate change.
To address these concerns, we partnered with Animation Expressions to work with Years 5 and 6 at Littledown Special School who created moving animations about ocean plastic pollution and deforestation of rainforests.
Artswork and Animation Expressions facilitated 15 classroom sessions focusing on animation techniques and discussing environmental issues.
The animations the young people created were a tool to have their voices heard to share their thoughts on issues that are important to them. It was an opportunity for them to express their creativity and learn a new skill.
One participant shared:
“When I first started I hated it, because I was scared to do something I’d never done before, now I love it”
Watch the videos here:
