Cornwall Council: Cornwall Climate and Nature Fund has provided £1,250 of match funding
Empower Young People: Fund Climate Education
Cornwall, United Kingdom
Aim
We need your help to bring our established, much-needed and inspiring climate workshops to young people across the South West!
Did you know that UK school children aren’t currently required to learn about climate change until GCSE level and even when they do learn about it, this is only in Science or Geography (an optional subject) – often focusing on case studies in distant parts of the world far removed from the reality of their daily lives.
And yet, while 68% of students want to learn more about climate change at school teachers are struggling with an already packed curriculum and lack the time, knowledge and resources to embed the subject in their teaching. (Teach the Future (2021).
Young people will live under the impacts of a changing climate - but right now the education system is failing to equip them for that reality.
Can you support our workshop programme and help us empower young people to become part of the climate solution?
About Us
Cornwall Climate Care is an award-winning educational charity producing inspiring climate change documentaries that highlight positive environmental action and ways in which everyone can make a difference. Our films, which have been praised by Sir David Attenborough, are used as a focus for our educational and outreach programmes in both school and non-school settings.
Thanks to donations and grant funding, our brilliant Education Coordinator, Hayley Hill, has run free workshops across the South West for the last three years, so far reaching almost 9000 young people! Each workshop is age appropriate, inspiring and enabling - incorporating fun, meaningful activities from climate bingo and creative writing to the ever-popular ‘Toilet Roll of Time’.
But it’s not just about understanding the mechanics of climate change. We also want to help young people develop the skills, tools and knowledge to be part of the solution. Our workshops consider eco-anxiety and how to proactively manage fears for the future, as well as career opportunities within the green economy.
Demand for these workshops is increasing, at a time when our secured funding is coming to an end. Teachers recognise the need for information and support for their pupils in this space and are looking to enhance their own knowledge and skills sets ahead of greater climate and sustainability content being incorporated into the curriculum in 2028.
What are the teachers saying?
“You did a fantastic job supporting the 400 children and hopefully this has raised their awareness of sustainability and will contribute to the next generation of global citizens”
“Perfectly pitched to the age - empowering but not shying away from the trickiness of the topic” 8-12 year old home education lead
“Done in a positive way without putting pressure on students (to fix climate change)” Year 4 teacher
"The students have been raving about your workshops - they absolutely loved it. Some of them were coming up to me whilst on duty at break time to discuss them with me which was so lovely to hear. We would love to book you again" Year 7 teacher
“Great presentation, clear and up to date data. The students jumped into the activity - they enjoy being creative” Year 13 teacher
So how can you help?
School finances are stretched and many simply can’t afford to pay for additional activities so, in order to reach as many students as possible, it is important to provide the workshops free of charge.
We also want to deliver more workshops in areas of high deprivation and for young people in non-school settings, such as home ed groups, youth organisations, scouts and brownies, and more.
In order to do this we need to raise funds.
Planning and delivering each two-hour workshop costs £200. With £10,000 we can reach over 1750 young people.
Please help us to support and motivate young people today to be part of a positive future for tomorrow!
This project successfully funded on 1st April 2026