Fylde Youth Climate Conference 2022
On Saturday 19th March at The Blackpool Sixth Form College young people from across the Fylde Coast came together to plan a greener future for the area. Over 50 people, including groups from 7 schools and colleges attended the first ever Fylde Youth Climate Conference.
What is it?
The conference was planned and delivered by members of Blackpool Sixth’s student-led Eco Action group in partnership with the Blackpool Youth Climate Group. A key aim of the conference was to share ideas and come up with actions to help tackle climate change at a local, national and international level. Conference delegates took part in roundtable discussions on topics such as living more sustainably, protecting wildlife and ecosystems, and making the fashion industry more environmentally-friendly. They also discussed how best to form ‘eco’ groups which can lead collective action in their schools and communities.
There were activity and resources stalls, including one staffed by Scout Network at which students could have a go at planting vegetable seeds and learning map-reading skills.
Another key feature of the event was video input from a number of local organisations and individuals involved in sustainability and environmental protection such as Blackpool Council, Groundwork and a Youth Climate Ambassador for Wales.
Through a prize draw and fundraising games at the event, money was raised for the youth-led charity Reserva: Youth Land Trust which is involved in restoring areas of rainforest around the world.
The key outcomes of the conference in terms of ideas and pledges for action will now be shared and there are already plans for follow-up up events and activities to grow this exciting new partnership.
Aims
- To engage with other young people on climate issues
- To decide on actions we can take to tackle climate change
- To improve our knowledge on important environmental issues and topics
Key discussion topics
- Fast Fashion / Eco Fashion
- Protecting local wildlife and ecosystems
- How to start and run an ‘eco’ group
- Global factors that lead to climate change
- Sustainable living
Organisers
- Blackpool Sixth Eco Action Group
- Blackpool Youth Climate Group
Schools & other organisations attending
- Armfield Academy
- Baines School
- Fleetwood School
- Garstang Community Academy
- Hodgson Academy
- St. Bede’s Catholic High School
Stalls & other activities
- Photo displays of actions by schools and colleges attending
- Eco Fashion from Blackpool Sixth Visual Arts Department
- Eco books stall
- Climate Research project display
- Eco activities led by Network Scouts
- Fundraising for Reserva: Youth Land Trust with a prize draw and a ‘litter pick’ game
Key discussion topics
- Fast Fashion / Eco Fashion
- Protecting local wildlife and ecosystems
- How to start and run an ‘eco’ group
- Global factors that lead to climate change
- Sustainable living
Next Steps
Blackpool Sixth Eco Action and the Blackpool Youth Climate Group will work with all the other partner schools/organisations to help ensure that the agreed actions and pledges are carried out. They will create a means of recording and celebrating progress and help maintain the FYCC partnership as a way of sharing ideas and resources.
We will seek to arrange further activities across the Fylde Coast for young people to participate in and will organise another conference in 2023.
Pledges & agreed actions
Here are the outcomes of the conference – 47 separate pledges and key goals covering: wildlife/nature; groups and communications; energy and emissions; reducing waste and litter; food and drink.
Resources
How to get involved
Contact us via ecoaction@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk and let us know if you would like to become part of the FYCC partnership or you can offer help / resources for the partnerships and its goals.
Here is a list of schools and groups who are already part of our growing partnership:
- Armfield Academy
- Baines School
- Blackpool Sixth
- Blackpool Youth Climate Group
- Fleetwood High School
- Garstang Community Academy
- Hodgson Academy
- St Bede’s Catholic High School
Conference videos
As part of FYCC we asked partner organisations to send us video contributions on the themes of the conference. Here are some of the videos shown at the conference.
“This was a fantastic opportunity to work with students & teachers from local schools in order to plan our eco club activities, & explore the changes that the school can make for the future!”
– High School Feedback
Feedback for FYCC22
“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for hosting the Climate Conference on Saturday. The students had a brilliant time and came back with so many great ideas for us to look at implementing in school.”
– High School Feedback
“It was honestly a wonderful event. Please pass on our thanks to all those who organised the event in such an impressive way – the organisation and delivery was so impressive.
I particularly liked, alongside seeing our young people take a full part and thrive, the opportunity to network with other teachers. We had invaluable discussions.”
– High School Feedback
