Young People
Young people all over the UK are taking part in environmental projects, championing improvements in their communities and voicing concerns over the big global challenges. But are we as adults doing our best to help them secure a decent future?
What we would like to see…
We would like central and local government, as well as agencies working with young people to take a coherent and strategic approach to
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Provide more opportunities for young people to explore and get involved in sustainable development
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Empower young people to have a say in service development and be able to challenge short term thinking
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Lay the foundations for a society that puts environmental issues on a par with social and economic needs.
Young people are concerned about their future and have strong views about how they would like to see their neighbourhoods change. We think their views are important and should be reflected in the strategic planning of young people’s services and wider policy-making that affects their lives. This means establishing effective ways to understand young people’s views and involve them in critical decisions. It also means taking a joined up approach to service design so that young people experience sustainable development every time they visit a youth centre, school, college or leisure facility.
We all need to:
ASK young people what they think a sustainable future looks like
LISTEN to changes they want adults to make
ACT on their concerns and ideas
Can sustainable development make a real difference to young people’s lives?
Here are three ways in which it can:
Positive activities
Research shows that young people gain a wide range of benefits from ‘green’ activities. From volunteering in local nature reserves, to planning festivals celebrating diversity to being involved in designing local parks and community facilities, young people are getting involved in a wide range of sustainable development activities.
They are benefiting from new knowledge and skills, increased self esteem as well as better health and fitness and becoming real stakeholders in their local and global communities. For an example see BTCV’s Green Gym programme which involves schools, families and volunteers of all ages.
| The ABLE Project - Wakefield Young people in Wakefield are trying their hand at aquaculture, working in partnership with several local organisations, the ABLE project uses a multi-purpose site to grow fruit trees and salad crops, produce high quality compost and raise different fish species for local markets. |
Empowering young people
Research shows that young people are worried about the impact of climate change. They want to take part in actions that will improve their lives now and those of future generations. They have a lot to say about the quality of the places they live, how their communities interact and where and what type of services they need. Since these issues impact on them directly, they are often the best people to understand what improvements are needed. With our support, DCSF have developed a Young Activists Programme to empower young people to act on their ideas.
» DirectGov’s site on Youth Opportunity Fund
| Wiltshire Young people in Wiltshire are developing a quality assurance programme to encourage their youth centres to be more sustainable. |
Combating social exclusion
Poor public transport access, high fuel and energy prices and degraded environments often impact more strongly on society’s most vulnerable families, with disadvantaged young people experiencing the negative effects of these issues. It is especially important that policies focusing on access, health and the environment are delivered in ways that offer long term, sustainable improvements to the communities that most need them.
| Working Herts In Nottingham and Hertfordshire young people are tackling energy efficiency in local homes and buildings through training schemes to fit insulation and energy saving measures in homes in their local communities. They are helping people to lower their fuel bills and reduce their carbon emissions at the same time. |
Links
» Department for Education’s Young Activists Programme
