Here at Young Climate Warriors, we don’t believe it is our children’s job to solve the climate crisis. But we do believe passionately that they – like all of us – should have the opportunity to find out how we can live more sustainably.
We aim to help children age 7-14 understand and engage with climate change - in a positive, age-appropriate way - and have their voices heard.
Since 2019, Young Climate Warriors has engaged over 15000 children in eco-activities and carbon-emissions-busting challenges, providing free resources to over 400 schools and 800 families. It's only with your support that we can keep engaging and informing kids.
Every donation to this crowdfunder is match-funded by Aviva (up to £250*) so it's a great way to maximise the impact of your giving!
How do we do this?
We've created four paths to action:
We set fun, weekly climate-change-related challenges online, inspiring action, sustainable living choices and an appreciation of nature. Each week we provide a 'schools pack' of trustworthy teaching resources.
We offer a ready-to-use, zero-cost ‘Climate Change Club in a box’ - a series of 10 sessions that can be used as an ‘after-school club’ or for ‘eco council’ meetings.
Our Young Climate Warriors Ambassador Programme takes climate change conversations into primary schools across the UK, offering discussion-based interactive in-person assemblies free to schools.
We are an approved activity provider for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze 'skills' award - helping young people learn about key issues, make informed choices and feel agency to be part of the solution.
We believe being part of a wider, virtual national team enables children’s voices to be heard and encourages a positive sense of collective action.
So what's the plan?
In the next 12 months, we want to enthuse 5000 more children via schools and communities by:
Boosting community climate hubs with on-site activity packs linking to our free resources
Launching a new ‘hit-the-red-button’ three-challenge award to galvanise school participation
Extending our Ambassador programme to meet existing Assembly demand from schools. More than 110 schools have requested an in-person YCW Ambassador Assembly to date.
To do this, we need more Ambassadors, extra organisational capacity and funds to cover basic costs like salaries and administration, including recruitment and DBS checks. Every donation today, no matter how small, is a step closer to achieving our goals in 2024.
Why support Young Climate Warriors?
We'll let our great feedback from teachers and kids do the talking:
Here's what teachers say about our YCW Ambassador Assemblies:
‘The YCW assembly was a fun and informative way for our children to learn about climate change and about what they can do to help. We loved the heart-warming and inspiring message that by making small changes they can collectively make a huge difference’ - RAF Benson Primary School
‘The assembly was very informative and interactive, allowing the children to feel like they were taking an active role. Lots of children were able to express their opinions and there were lots of hands up to volunteer to take part’. - St Marys Prep School
A recent donor and YCW parent commented: 'My daughter loves YCW - comes back with loads of ideas and enthusiasm for all things environmental...real grassroots work!!'
Last word goes to Young Climate Warrior Aiden: 'I love being a Young Climate Warrior. It's amazing all the interesting things you learn each week about how to protect our planet. And it is great to know that by making these small changes, I am making a big difference to our world.'
*How does the Crowdfunder work?
It's only with your support that we can keep engaging and informing kids. Every donation to this crowdfunder is match-funded by Aviva, by up to £250 (max one donation per person match-funded) - every penny you donate is doubled, so you can achieve maximum impact with your donation. If you're eligible for Gift Aid, a £50 donation will actually be worth £112.50 to Young Climate Warriors. A £250 gift-aided donation will be worth an amazing £581.25.
Thank you for your support - we can't do it without you!
Who is behind Young Climate Warriors?
Katrina Judge founded YCW in 2019. Having worked in several climate-facing roles and after a Masters in Environmental Change, Katrina felt compelled to channel her energies into a venture to help combat climate change and its effects. Her vision is that all children should have the opportunity and resources to help them learn and understand about climate change - and feel empowered to reflect, discuss and choose their own path of action.
After an overwhelmingly positive reception from local schools and students, YCW became a registered charity in 2020 and is now providing ready-to-use, high quality and thought-provoking climate change resources to over 400 schools and 800 families, stretching from Cornwall to Aberdeenshire. Now an active member of The Climate Coalition and Our Shared World, a Duke of Edinburgh Award approved activity provider, a 'showcased programme' with Transform our World, a 'community hub' with Count Us In and a contributing partner collaborating with and supporting many initiatives such as Let's Go Zero and Teach the Future, YCW has forged a vital role in encouraging positive climate action.