Green Influencers: Inspiring young people in Bristol and wider area to follow Greta Thunberg’s lead

 

Young people in Bristol will be inspired to follow in Greta Thunberg’s footsteps thanks to funding from educational charity The Ernest Cook Trust.

CSE has received funding to support the employment of a Green Mentor who will enable young people to lead the way as Green Influencers on social action projects in their communities.

The pioneering Green Influencers scheme is funded by the #Iwill Fund, which supports young people to access high-quality social action opportunities and is backed by £25m of seed funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and Department of Culture, Media & Sport.

Green Influencers aged from 10 to 14-years-old will spring up across Bristol after CSE was among 36 host organisations awarded grants to support the employment of 40 Green Mentor posts.

Together they will turn words into action with a wide range of measures to protect and enhance the local environment and tackle climate change.

Nick Stromberg who will take on the role of Green Mentor for CSE, said: “What is really special about Green Influencers scheme is that it will give young people a chance to lead the way and offer the chance to learn through hands-on outdoor activities."
 

Over the next two years, under the Green Influencers Scheme, The Ernest Cook Trust will pay CSE £18,000 annually to fund the Green Mentor post to kick-start the programme with further financial support to ensure they instigate lasting change right across their communities.

The young environmental activists will be at the forefront of youth social action projects that will benefit schools and communities across England after The Ernest Cook Trust awarded grants worth a total of £720,000 to host organisations.

Dr Victoria Edwards OBE, Chief Executive of The Ernest Cook Trust, said: “The Ernest Cook Trust’s new funding programme will empower young people in Bristol to follow in Greta’s footsteps and positively engage in environmental social action projects.

The scheme is being rolled out nationwide following successful pilot schemes at Action for Conservation in London, East Riding Voluntary Action Services in Hull, Groundwork Greater Manchester, Groundwork Northamptonshire and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

The initiative also gives participants a valuable opportunity to develop leadership skills. Nine people aged 14 to 20 are members of the Scheme’s Youth Advisory Board. They have steered strategic decision-making and will help select grant awards for Green Influencers projects.

Anyone interested in joining the Green Influencers Scheme should contact megan.blyth a_t cse d_o_t org d_o_t uk or nick.stromberg a_t cse d_o_t org d_o_t uk

For information about the Green Influencers Scheme visit The Ernest Cook Trust website or email greeninfluencers a_t ernestcooktrust d_o_t org d_o_t uk.