Organisers are hoping to raise £5,000 to support the annual Bath and North East Somerset Youth Climate Summit. This pioneering event gives local 12 to 15 year olds an opportunity to learn about issues of environmental and social justice that will be defining issues for their generation.
This year it is being held on 15th and 16th October at Kingswood School in Bath.
Organisers of the Summit, Green Vision: the Bath and North East Somerset Youth Climate Movement, hope to encourage local businesses and members of the public to make a donation in support of the event. In return Green Vision is offering a variety of rewards including tickets to future events, training in social media strategy and advanced facilitation techniques. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so online at: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/investment/b–nes–youth–climate–summit-2012-1332
Tom Youngman, a member of Green Vision and co-designer of the Summit, said: “This is the fifth annual Youth Climate Summit, presenting environmental and social issues to 120 young people not just as classroom theory, but as problems to be tackled, with workshops and talks from leaders in business, activism and academia helping young people from Bath and North East Somerset realise their potential to help make the changes they want to see in the world.”
Kingswood School, itself a holder of an Eco-Schools’ ‘Green Flag’ award for its environmental initiatives, have kindly agreed to host this year’s Summit. Simon Morris, headmaster of Kingswood School, said: “Unseasonal weather patterns and photos of melting ice caps leave us all asking questions about climate change. Students, knowing that their generation is critical to future decision making, have an acute sense of connection and responsibility. Kingswood tries to build the eco agenda into both its daily life and policy decisions and is therefore delighted to be hosting the Bath and North East Somerset conference on climate change.”
Bath Spa University is one of the Summit’s headline sponsors. Adam Powell, Head of Enterprise and Local Partnerships at the University said: “Bath Spa University is delighted to be supporting the 5th Bath and North East Somerset Youth Climate Summit. As a top ten UK university for environmental and ethical performance and holder of the national EcoCampus Platinum Award, environmental matters impact positively right across the University. Staff and students from our Geography, Environmental Science and Sustainability subject areas look forward to participating in the Summit and we hope that our dedicated bursary fund will remove any barriers to local schools and young people with an interest in green issues from participating in this inspiring and worthwhile event.“
Feilden Clegg Bradley, a local architectural practice with a strong reputation for designing buildings in an environmentally sensitive way, has also kindly agreed to sponsor the Summit along with Bath Abbey, Kingswood Association, Councillor Lisa Brett and Kingswood School.
The organisers are now also accepting applications for the Summit’s free facilitative leadership training initiative. This gives 32 young people professional training in facilitation skills so they can act as facilitators at workshops and discussions at the Summit. Jamie Colston, of Green Vision and the deliverer of this training, said: “As well as creating a unique learning experience for 13 to 15 year olds, the Summit gives young people the opportunity to act as facilitators at the event. The skills they will gain through this training are the same ones utilised to drive creativity and innovation in pioneering business and charities, and they will be of use to these young people for the rest of their lives.” More information about this training is available at greenvisionmovement.org/youthsummittraining
More information about the Summit, including speakers, workshops, how to get involved in organising the Summit, and how to book a place is available at:greenvisionmovement.org/youthsummit
