London Wildlife Trust awarded £245K to create volunteering opportunities for young people
The London Wildlife Trust has been awarded £245,000 by Arts Council England to create volunteering opportunities for young people.
The funding has come through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)’s Volunteering Futures fund.
The new project, called Nature Nurtures, will be centred around “creativity and conservation”.
Through the project, people aged 16-25 will be able to attend nature-themed creative writing workshops, youth leadership and volunteer management training.
It will aim to get young people involved with nature conservation across the capital city through creativity.
In addition, Nature Nurtures aims to support young people to connect with their peers, build confidence, and boost physical and mental well-being.
Sessions will take place in Sydenham Hill Wood, Southwark, Walthamstow Wetlands, Waltham Forest, Hutchinson’s Bank, Croydon, Woodberry Wetlands, Hackney and Camley Street Natural Park, Camden.
Participants across London will be able to get involved, but the project will be specifically aimed at local young people who are underrepresented in jobs and volunteering positions in the environmental and culture sectors – such as people who are black, Asian, and ethnically diverse, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
London Wildlife Trust will be partnering up with other nature and youth organisations such as Spread the Word, Black Girls Hike, and London Youth to deliver Nature Nurtures.
Leah McNally, director of learning, youth and communities at London Wildlife Trust, said: “We are really excited to be working with partners Spread the Word, Black Girls Hike and London Youth to develop a new model for youth volunteering at London Wildlife Trust.
“We will be delivering innovative nature-themed creative writing workshops, youth leadership and volunteer management training to get a wider range of creative young people involved in taking action for nature in London.”
Pictured top: London Wildlife Trust youth volunteers (Picture: London Wildlife Trust)