Children and young people’s views on climate change – the eight projects

We recently hosted an online event which showcased the creative outputs of the organisations who were awarded the small grants.

Download our summary of the projects and key learning from the scheme (PDF). 

Watch a film of the event on YouTube.

Read a transcript of the video of the event (PDF).

The eight projects involved a variety of methods and outputs including virtual workshops and interviews, films, a digital magazine, crafting and the collection of air quality data on bikes.

We have been impressed with the innovation and creativity in developing these projects and are delighted to have been able to facilitate such inspiring work.

The Brunswick Centre

The Brunswick Centre Youth Committee have designed and are producing a project that involves online video discussions with their peers, local politicians (Councillors, MSPs, MPs) to openly discuss the climate emergency. They are asking what our politicians are doing to tackle this issue and are also exploring what they, their friends and family can do to assist. Watch the film on Facebook. 

Eco Drama

Eco Drama engaged young people through a project called Future Calling to explore their thoughts and feelings around the climate emergency and facilitate individual and collective creative responses to re-imagine what our future could look like. Future Calling addressed the theme of climate change by telling the story of a future world in 2050, where humans have not made the necessary changes to avert climate destruction. Eco Drama, led by artist Ben Mali McFadyen, gathered young people’s responses to the climate emergency through online discussion, visioning exercises, games, nature activities, arts and media, inspiring them to re-imagine a future full of hope, possibility and environmental harmony. A compilation of these responses is recorded in a film: Future Calling – A Message From 2050. Watch the film on YouTube.

Govan Help

Govan Help delivered a recycling craft project and launched a competition asking young people in Govan to create a climate change themed artwork and send in a picture of it, alongside their response to the question “how do you feel about climate change”. The project team distributed free art packs designed to give children the tools needed to facilitate free and creative exploration. A partnership was developed with the local children’s community interest company ‘Make do and Grow CIC’, who exhibited the children’s entries in their shop window, and hosted a prize giving ceremony for the winners. The booklet Crafting Change showcases the children’s artwork and their thoughts about climate change. Download the booklet (PDF).

Maryhill Parish Church

Maryhill Parish Church has employed young people as sessional workers to design virtual workshops to gather young people’s views on climate change. The intent is to invite the community to LIVE SIMPLY, to make small changes and develop community art work through schools and with community groups. Artwork was developed and is presented in this short video on EdShare.

Miltonbank Primary School

Primary 6/7 pupils of Miltonbank Primary School have worked with documentary filmmaker Ruth Carslaw to make a short film to amplify their voices on the impact of climate change on their health and wellbeing. The film takes viewers on a journey with young people as they explore and make sense of their world in this present state of emergency. The short and lyrical narrative documentary is both thought provoking and inspires others to see the world through their eyes. Watch the film.

Rumpus Room Ltd

Rumpus Room supported two young people from their Youth Activist Group to develop and deliver a series of 6 online workshops with accompanying activity sheets to creatively engage with young people around the issue of climate change. The workshops captured young people’s ideas, actions and artwork relating to art and ecology with a focus on climate activism and creative protest in the run up to COP 26. A digital magazine entitled Adapt and Act Issue 1 – Climate Action was produced illustrating these ideas. 

South Seeds

South Seeds rented air pollution monitors and fixed them to bicycles. Young people were recruited to cycle around and collect air quality data at specific times of the day. The data was analysed by staff at University of Strathclyde and a colour-coded map was created highlighting air pollution “hotspots”. The map is showcased in Glasgow Evening Fumes, a newspaper that tells the story of the young people involved and their hopes and dreams for the future. The newspaper explains the link between air pollution, climate change and health and wellbeing.

Village Storytelling Centre 

Village Storytelling Centre engaged with young people by creating a space for them to reflect on and voice their opinions and feelings about climate change. Working remotely, they used a variety of art forms including drama, storytelling, poetry, creative writing and mask and prop making. The young people involved created and performed in a short film called The Council of the Earth. Watch the film on YouTube.