Our Make Your Mark findings told us young people see protecting the environment as the most important issue on both a local Surrey Heath level and on a national scale. These results were replicated in local authorities across the UK.
In order to target this issue in our community we have devised and voted on two projects. We will be providing social media updates and blog posts to keep you up to date so make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Firstly we are going to be promoting how we can all make small changes in our lives that can have a big impact on our environmental impact and carbon footprint. We will be running a series of blogs and video updates as members of SHYC work to eliminate a certain negative aspect from their daily lives, such as walking to school and using less plastic in their lunch packaging. We will then reach out to eco-councils in our local schools so that their members are able to get on board with the project. This means young people across Surrey Heath will have an example to follow and we can challenge more young people to get involved and share their green stories.
Secondly, we have devised a scheme that will allow the even younger people in Surrey Heath to also gain an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment. We will be visiting our primary schools in the area and deliver interactive workshops where we will educate them on the steps they can take as well as launching a challenge to find the best use of recycled materials. By creating a fun aspect to the issue we hope to encourage more people to be involved.
Finally, the results - when looking at a UK wide issue - specified young people still had concerns over Knife Crime. We hope to collaborate with existing campaigns later in the year to ensure all Surrey Heath young people are aware of the steps they can take to keep themselves and their friends safe.
Make sure to watch the blog and our YouTube channel for updates and to follow the youth councillors as they embark on the going green challenge.