The Climate Action Teacher Champion programme is now recruiting for round three, starting in January 2024. If you are a teacher, consider yourself invited – or nominate a colleague! If you’re a parent or a student, tell your school about it and get them involved. Send them a link, or download and send the flyer below.
The scheme has already worked with a dozen schools in Luton to train teachers and develop climate action plans. Participating schools have gone on to found eco-teams, draw up plans for new gardening areas, and introduce new ideas to reduce food waste and boost recycling. There are two roof-gardens in the works, as well as new and renovated ponds, wildflower meadow and tree-planting plans. At least one school is investigating solar panels to reduce costs and carbon emissions.
“Most of what we’ve focused on is improving our school environment,” says Sam Clarke from Wigmore school, who took part in round one of the CATCh programme. “Our whole outdoor area needed a refurb, to cut pathways through, to do some wildflowers, to increase biodiversity. We have a pond but it’s dried up and it’s just a concrete shell, so that’s getting fixed and lined. We’ve got a lot of ideas, and it will take a year to work through them, but in the end it will be such a nice place for the children, for them to come outside and learn about their environment, about biodiversity, and to really care and make a difference.”
The CATCh programme consists of six weeks training, in both online and in-person sessions. This happens with teachers from other schools, as part of a learning community of like-minded educators. Teachers then work on a one-to-one basis with an experienced facilitator from one of the partner organisations, and develop a climate action plan for their specific context. It brings all the many options around sustainability into a practical and manageable plan. Participating schools also receive a £1,000 grant to get them started on their eco actions.
Teachers from round two are finished the programme and completing their plans by Christmas, with round three now recruiting. To join the scheme, please email myclimate@luton.gov.uk
Zero Carbon Luton 