Climate change is an intergenerational challenge and if we’re going to meet that challenge young people need to be empowered to be leaders.

This project aims to pioneer an innovative new approach to supporting young people to lead on climate action - the Climate Action Toolkit - with a local focus on schools and young people in Buckinghamshire.

What will your pledge enable us to do?

Our project aims to benefit 1,500 young people (age 11-18) in Buckinghamshire by providing expert support to roll out the Climate Action Toolkit, an innovative package of support for climate action in schools which was developed and piloted in 2021 with the support of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. In schools where it has been piloted, the Toolkit has acted as a powerful catalyst for youth-led climate action.

What problem are we trying to help solve?

Our research last year showed that a large proportion (80%) of young people are concerned about climate change, but seek a broader understanding of achievable action.

The research identified a number of barriers preventing young people from acting on climate change at home, in school and in the wider community: 1 in 2 of the 11–18-year-olds surveyed felt unsure of what steps they can take, and 8 in 10 felt insufficient time is provided in school to take action. Although 1 in 2 young people are already choosing to act on climate change, only 2 in 10 are taking action in school, and only 1 in 10 in their community. 

How does the Climate Action Toolkit work?

Schools across the UK are planning and delivering a wide range of climate-friendly steps, such as reducing waste, making buildings more efficient, or encouraging greener travel. Success in this area means having the support of the whole school community. Everybody has a part to play.

Students – and staff – have lots of different views, and there will be different activities and approaches that can help motivate them. It is therefore important to have a clear picture of these views and motivations so that you can then provide the best options to support climate-friendly choices. This is where the Climate Action Toolkit comes in. 

A lead team of students (e.g. an eco-group) work with us, alongside their teacher, to:

1. Complete the Climate Action Survey

Students leading the initiative roll out a comprehensive online survey across school, ensuring everyone can have a say.

2. Generate insights

We will analyse the data and provide schools with a personalised insights report of their students’: views on climate change; what they are doing to take climate action; what barriers are preventing them from taking further action; what would motivate and enable them to do more.

3. Create an action plan

Follow up activities and analysis will support schools to use their insights to create a tailored plan, outlining what would motivate change and how to engage others.

4. Deliver the plan

We provide mentoring to help schools implement their specific plans and sustain change.  

What will the funding be used for?

An indicative breakdown of how, if we meet our target (£5,000), the money will be spent: 

• Preparatory engagement and organisation with schools = £500 
• Survey data analysis, synthesis and report writing = £1,000   
• Post-survey liaison and workshop set up = £250 
• Action implementation workshop facilitation = £500 
• Travel and direct expenses = £100 
• Charity administration = £150
• Per school = £2500
• Delivery quantity x 2 = £5,000

Who are InterClimate Network?

Our vision at InterClimate Network is for young people to be given the tools to incorporate climate sustainability across every aspect of their lives, and to become leaders for a more sustainable future. 

Although we're a small charity, in the last three years we engaged with 184 schools and over 7500 students, of which 1250 students committed to take climate action and 140 became climate leaders (read more about how we measure impact). We raised £150,000 and developed a high-class team. This project will help enable us to continue this momentum by expanding our work to a new area of the country. Watch this case study of our previous work with schools in London: