‘ChangeMakers’ Project Launch

Students from Cheltenham Bournside School joined young people from across Gloucestershire to have their voices heard on climate change with local government officials, the council and industry specialists.

On Wednesday 10th November, Cheltenham Education Partnership (CEP) launched their ChangeMakers Project, a collaboration of young people from across 10 Cheltenham state and independent secondary schools taking action against climate change. Launched in parallel with COP26, the project aims to empower Cheltenham’s young people with a voice and support them to take positive action towards more environmentally sustainable schools and communities.

Students heard from and asked questions of industry specialists including Planet Cheltenham, Severn Wye, Logical Utilities, FoodLoose and Plastic Free North Devon. Alex Chalk, MP for Cheltenham and Councillor, Max Wilkinson (cabinet member for Climate Emergency) took to the stage for a panel discussion in which students asked the questions they wanted answers to regarding local and government level priorities for addressing the climate change emergency.

Alex Chalk MP said: "The CEP ChangeMakers launch event was a fantastic opportunity to share ideas with young people about how best to take action here in Cheltenham to promote sustainability and tackle the climate crisis. I particularly welcomed the focus on green transport, and I’m hoping the students I met will be the Cheltenham cyclists of the future!"

The student ChangeMakers came together to debate their views on how Cheltenham’s schools and community are being impacted by climate change and where action towards supporting sustainability is needed most. Working in teams they identified and agree on the top priorities for tackling climate change locally.

Lucy Rigby, Head of Geography said: "Dylan, Josh and Finn represented our school at the ChangeMakers event fantastically and were able to to discuss climate change with government and industry experts with young people from across Gloucestershire. Inspired and armed with new ideas, they will now bring back their ideas to help improve our school."

For more information about the CEP ChangeMakers scheme and to follow students’ climate change actions over the coming months visit: www.CEPCheltenham.co.uk