Inspiring young people and their communities to take action for nature
What is All Our Futures?
All Our Futures is a brand new partnership between Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, The Junction Foundation, and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. Our mission is to increase local awareness of environmental issues and empower communities to make a difference, reigniting their connection to urban, coastal, and rural environments and wildlife.
The project aims to bring together the skills of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, The Junction Foundation, and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council to re-engage those least likely to access and engage in natural environments and climate change issues, within their local communities and natural spaces and take direct action to mitigate climate change and the loss of biodiversity.
Over the course of the project, we will be working with community and youth groups, schools, colleges, and families, to improve the spaces that matter to them to benefit wildlife and people. All of the work we do is guided by the wants and needs of the young people we work with on the project.
Who’s involved?
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
The project delivers against Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councils’ Climate Change Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy. While the council are a non-funded partner on the project, the Climate Change and Sustainability Team are supporting the project in many ways. Primarily, they are supporting us by working to allow us to develop 3 ‘green spaces’ across the borough, using ideas developed by the Youth Forum, to improve the spaces for communities and wildlife.
The Junction Foundation
The Junction Foundation is a well respected charity for children, young people and families based in Tees Valley, who are passionate about making a difference to the lives of children, young people and families. They offer many services to young people, including support for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers, mental health support, and employment and education skills for young people.
To find out more about The Junction and to get in touch, click on the link: https://www.thejunctionfoundation.com/The Junction
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
As the Wildlife Trust, we support the project by bringing our environmental expertise to help ensure the the maximum benefit for wildlife. This includes running events such as BioBlitz’s, nature walks, beach days, and delivering volunteer group events such as the Youth Rangers and working with schools and colleges.
We are going supporting the redevelopment of three ‘Green Spaces’ across the borough, by helping implement improvements suggested by the projects Youth Forum. This will include adding wildlife ponds and water features, laying hedges and drystone walls, adding sensory areas, and making wheelchair accessible footpaths to ensure that the spaces are accessible to all in the community.
How to get involved
All Our Futures works with young people aged 11 to 18, and up to 24 with those with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND). There are many different ways for young people to get involved with the project:
Youth Forum
The projects Youth Forum meet on Tuesday nights every two weeks to help inform decision making around the project, as well as designing and engaging with climate related activities. For example, the Forum have worked on drawing up suggestions for the Green Spaces and have presented these to Council representatives.
To find out more about the Youth Forum, please email Keri Guymer at [email protected]
Youth Rangers
Our Youth Rangers are a group who meet twice a month to undertake practical conservation and habitat work on Wildlife Trust Reserves, local forests, and other green spaces. Undertaking activities such as tree planting, wildlife surveys, installing infrastructure such as benches. Youth Rangers is ideal for those who prefer getting stuck in in all (well, nearly all) weathers, and for those who’d like to gain work experience in conservation.
For more details please email Michael Guymer at [email protected]
Family events
Through out the year we run events for families and young people from across Redcar & Cleveland. These events can cover a wide range of topics, such as sustainable Christmas decorations using recycled and reused materials, and family nature days at local beaches and green spaces.
These are publicised on our social media pages throughout the year, so follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with what’s on. However, if you’d like to find out more about what events we have planned, please email Michael Guymer at [email protected]
