Project: Educating young people about environmental issues and increasing their engagement with local wildlife
Grant: £4,774
Fund: #iWill
Chiltern Rangers, a social enterprise who work with communities to provide practical habitat management, used their grant from the #iWill fund to help educate young people in the local community on all things environmental.
With the support from their grant, Chiltern Rangers ran both engagement and practical sessions for 114 young people who were guided through the process of conceptualising, planning and delivering a public engagement project, increasing their awareness of local and global environmental issues and how young people can make a difference through collective social action.
Some participants even got involved in a full campaign day named ‘Community Environment Day’ with the aim of increasing knowledge of and engagement with Youth Social and Environmental Action. On the day, young people were able to share the learnings from their sessions and, along with their families, learned more about their local habitats and what action can be taken to look after them.
The participants felt empowered to take newly learned information back to their schools and community groups and spread the message regarding the environmental impact of litter, pollution and single-use plastics. The local woodland and river has benefitted from a thorough clean up and the creation of eco-themed public art has improved the local public space while continuing to spread environmental awareness.
“This makes me want to make an impact for the future generations” Emma R (aged 16), participant.
“It didn’t look like there was much litter in the river. As I went in it opened my eyes and showed me how much there really is. I’m 100% coming back to make more difference” N.Khan (aged 16), participant.
