Inspiring Green Futures
Book engaging Green job workshops for your KS2 and KS2 classes now!
The West of England Combined Authority are funding the Inspire Sustainability team at UWE Bristol to engage local children with the Green careers needed to achieve Net Zero.
The “Curiosity Connections Green Futures” project will use real-life local role models to inform and inspire local children about Green jobs.
“What do you mean by a “Green” career?”
“Do you have to like gardening or work in recycling?”
“How do you get those Green-y jobs?”
(Questions from local children)
The new resources will seek to answer those questions – helping children across the West of England to understand what job opportunities there are to build a sustainable future for our planet, and how their skills are crucial to that transition.
The team have recruited local people from a huge range of Green jobs to feature on the top trump-style card pack. They’ve created a great adaptable set of lesson plans – where teachers choose from a selection of hands-on, curriculum linked activities – that focus on exploring these local Green jobs and the positive role pupils can play in the green transition.
New partnership to reach thousands
Leading the project, UWE Bristol are bringing together local networks. Collaborators include:
- Curiosity Connections – the hub for primary science teachers and science communicators in the West of England
- The Natural History Consortium -who work with nature employers and run the annual Festival of Nature in Bristol and Bath
- My Future My Choice – innovative education services
- Graphic Science – who manage the local science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Ambassador Network
The aim is to show not only the great expanse of Green career options, but also that people from all backgrounds can enter these careers. So the card pack will showcase diverse local people at all career stages, from entry level to CEO, who’ve taken varied career pathways.
The cards will form the basis of a hands-on green careers kit, deployed by UWE’s outreach experts in 100s of pop-up sessions and whole school events in the next two years. Sessions will be tailored for both primary and secondary school classes, with additional mini-Green summits specially designed to effectively engage children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and in alternative learning provision (ALP).
To maximise awareness and support for Green careers, the project will involve families wherever possible, and this will be a particular focus at big events, such as the Festival of Nature in Bristol and Bath.
Green ambassadors will go into schools with the UWE team to inspire children face-to-face. And online resources will expand on the card profiles, with extra careers information and guidance enabling children to understand how a Green career could fit their interests and skill set.
If you want to book us into your school from Jan 2025, please email louisa.cockbill@uwe.ac.uk.
