The group, along with Woodcraft Folk staff and volunteers, took part in carbon literacy training as part of the residential. This was led by Emma Fielding from Future We Want and focussed on playing the game ‘How Bad are Bananas?’. The participants were really engaged in learning more about carbon footprints and how our everyday actions can have an impact on our environment.

“I was surprised that make up has such a large carbon footprint because it has sheep oil inside which uses a lot of carbon and energy to use” – Luna (15, New Barnet). 

The participants also explored their own carbon footprint. This was an impactful way for the young attendees to see where eco friendlier changes can be made in everyday life. All the participants made pledges for individual action to reduce their carbon footprint and together the group developed ideas for how Woodcraft Folk as an organisation, could lower their carbon footprint. This included some engaging conversations around travel options to camp, event menus and activities that groups do whilst together. 

After the sessions with Emma, the young participants worked together to create a series of videos about what they had learnt – watch this space to see what they created! Woodcraft Folk, NAEE and RSC hope to share these videos with educators, group leaders, adults and young people in the coming weeks and months. 

Excitingly, the group was lucky enough to have Margaret Fleming (Leicester district) as a KP (responsible for the kitchen) for the residential. The delicious food that the participants enjoyed was all seasonal, locally produced and had an extremely low carbon footprint. This tied in really well with the theme of the residential and there was very minimal waste left over by the group. This sparked debate and conversation around whether all Woodcraft Folk camps and residentials could be more friendly to the planet yet still be just as tasty!

On the final day of the residential, the group was joined by Raquel from the Common Ground board. Raquel led a session with the young participants around how climate is talked about in the media. The young people really resonated with the workshop and shared their own personal experiences of using social media and accessing the news. Many were surprised that according to a recent survey, most young people get their news from their families/households rather than their expectation that all their news updates came from social media. Raquel and the other adults then supported the young people to develop their own session plans to be delivered at Common Ground this summer and with their local Woodcraft Folk groups.

As well as learning about carbon literacy and creating videos the participants sang songs around the campfire, played wild games in the woods, spotted lots of nature including squirrels and deer and made new friendships. 

Those who attended the residential will go on to deliver activities around the climate crisis and lead games of ‘How Bad are Bananas’ and other workshops around the topic of the climate emergency at Common Ground this summer. 

If you would like to find out more about the All Change project head to the project page https://woodcraft.org.uk/projects-campaigns/all-change/ or get in touch with Lauren via email at lauren@woodcraft.org.uk 

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The outreach grant will enable Woodcraft Folk to develop partnership work with the Future We Want organisation who are passionate about creating opportunities and supporting others to learn about sustainability.

A spokesperson from the RSC says:

“The panel were very positive about the activity planned by Woodcraft Folk with the funding and the audience it would be reaching. In particular, it is great to hear that the young people have asked for this and that they will be trained as ambassadors to disseminate climate action and education information.”

The funding is also allowing for a small group of young people from Woodcraft Folk to receive carbon literacy training as part of a climate action residential event to be held at the charity’s Cudham Environmental Activities Centre. If anyone is interested in the residential, there are still some spaces available – all ages are welcome.

The residential participants will be introduced to the ‘How Bad are Bananas?’ carbon footprint game and will begin the process of measuring Cudham’s carbon footprint. The young people who complete the residential, will receive accreditation through the Carbon Literacy Trust.

The Cudham event is part of wider activity led by Woodcraft Folk, which will educate young people, teachers and youth workers about climate change. Over the next few months the charity will be:

• Supporting young people to produce informative podcasts sharing their views on climate change
• Sharing educational resources and group night session plans on climate change and climate justice
• Delivering workshops at the charity’s international camp, Common Ground this summer
• Creating a badgework programme for Elfins, Pioneers and Venturers

Woodcraft Folk have a wide selection of resources available on environmental activities and climate science which can be accessed at https://woodcraft.org.uk/activity/. The resources may be of particular interest to groups, youth leaders and schools.

To enquire about the residential weekend please email Lauren at lauren.karstadt@woodcraft.org.uk and to find out more about Future We Want head here.

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The meeting explored the importance of the climate emergency, expectations of COP26, what actions young people have been taking to address the climate emergency and their demands of senior politicians.

Seren shared her experience of teaching younger children about climate change and climate science through games and activities.

Maddy shared the need for action to address climate inequality.

Luke Pollard was delighted to be inspired by young people. After Maddy and Seren spoke he called upon all members of the public to hold decision makers to account. Many are hoping to make COP26 the only successful COP with agreed action.

To find out more about what Woodcraft Folk is doing in the run up to and during the COP26 in Glasgow, and how you can get involved, check out our COP26 campaign page.

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Groups across Scotland will create giant leaf flags to create a forest canopy, which will be installed of leaves for life to be installed at the Briggait, and in the Intermedia Gallery at the Centre for Contemporary Arts.

Woodcraft Folk groups across the UK are invited to join the project by making leaves of their own to send to Glasgow ready for COP26 — leaves should be around a metre in length and cut from fabric.

If you are planning to get involved, organisers would love to hear from you with details of how many leaves you hope to make — get in touch by emailing leavesforlife@riseup.net.

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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.

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