Over 4 years Groundwork Greater Manchester will be supporting the delivery of The Ernest Cook Trust’s Green Influencers programme across the city region.
The initiative is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, the Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the #iwill campaign.
Groundwork’s qualified and experienced youth workers will act as Green Mentors to support the development of 60 Green Influencers; young people aged 10-14 with a passion for environmental projects.
Environmental Social Action
Young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow. They have the energy, skills and ideas to improve society and our environment today.
The Green Influencers programme supports passionate young people to create deep, lasting and meaningful connections with the natural environment. Supported by Groundwork’s Green Mentors young people will learn skills which will help them contribute to the local community through environmental social action.
Harnessing the passion and energy young people have for the environment and through the power of peer-to-peer education and engagement, we can create a movements that makes a real difference in our environment.
Programme Set Up
The Green Influencers programme will champion effective and sustainable youth social action through the development of leadership, communication and activism skills in young people.
Once these skills have been developed Groundwork’s Green Mentors will support Green Influencers to develop a project idea which will improve their local community. Topics which Green Influencers may wish to consider include:
- Sustainable food
- Waste & litter
- Wildlife
- Climate change
Once an environmental social action project has been developed it is essential that Green Influencers are able to engage other young people with their project idea and explain the benefits of taking part in volunteering and social action.
Once Green Influencers have recruited approximately 10 friends to support the development of their project a £360 grant will be awarded. There will be an opportunity to apply for further grants for larger, more ambitious Green Influencer projects.
Our support
As qualified and experienced youth workers, Groundwork’s Green Mentors are able to support the development of Green Influencers in a range of settings including youth clubs, in schools or online sessions.
Whether you’re a young person in Greater Manchester with an idea for an environmental project but you’re not sure how to get started or you’re a teacher who sees something in their pupils ready to be unlocked we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact John Swallow, Senior Youth Social Action Project Worker, on john.swallow@groundwork.org.uk
