Young people from across Penzance have been given the chance to create the community’s future, with the help of Sustainable PZ’s new Schools Action Plan and Information Hub.

Following two School Symposium events, which mapped out the incredible work already happening in schools across Penzance, the new plan and hub will be a bridge to help students and staff collaborate to build a resilient future that puts people, place and planet first.

How it started: School Symposiums

Our first School Symposium was the first step in collating the work already underway to help pupils and students connect to nature, protect the environment, and tackle climate change.

From community gardens to Plastic Free Schools, and so many more incredible projects, students (from primary to college age) explored the work that so many schools locally are already championing, before turning their minds to where the gaps were. What they themselves felt was needed in their school and town.

Through fun and interactive activities, they then dived into what they would like to see happen locally, as well as their visions for the future of their schools. Whether it was a walking bus to help minimise polluting transport on the school run, schools growing their own food for lunches or generating their own electricity, they had the chance to explore new ways to take their work to the next level.

With support from so many organisations who were on hand to speak about their own work, we were also thrilled to give young people a chance to interact with those already taking action on the ground.

Decision-makers of tomorrow

One of the key elements of both of the School Symposiums was to help students understand the power they hold in future decision-making for their communities.

With the help of the Penzance Mayor and fellow councillors, they were given the chance to find out more about how they can actively get involved right now, ask any questions they wanted and learn how important it is to have their say about their future.

They also did lots of work around messages they want to give to the community, including giving feedback for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust consultation around the future of Penwith’s landscape. A potential opportunity for a long-term project they can get involved with to shape the tomorrow of the whole area.

The result of all this work? The Schools Action Plan – 100% led by the students and built based on their vision for Penzance. And an online hub to support staff to support their young people.

The Schools Action Plan: Access for everyone

With all the ideas, work, and research brought to light through the first School Symposium, Sustainable PZ created the Schools Action Plan as a tool for everyone.

With the schools and college working on so many individual projects, it doesn’t suggest anything new – it simply pulls together the great work already being done, and puts it into one plan, which can be replicated town-wide.

For example, if one school is already doing something (like a community garden) that another isn’t, those schools can then connect and learn from each other to make an even bigger impact. Meanwhile, it could be that a school has gone through the Plastic Free Schools award, while another would like to learn from their experience so they can become awarded, too.

Plus, this new tool means that, along with Sustainable PZ, the schools and college can kick-start new projects together. And possibly even attract funding to implement the vision we all want to bring to life.

The Schools Hub: Free resources, free training

To make this as easy as possible for everyone who wants to get involved, we launched the action plan at the second Symposium alongside a Schools Hub – an online platform where teachers can access free resources, workshops, afterschool clubs, planning, support, and more information on how Sustainable PZ can help them work on the Action Plan, and more, with their young people.

Add a host of signposting to other organisations that schools can connect to, whether it’s finding visits to go on, projects to link to, or people to speak to for more support and it already forms a comprehensive package of totally free support for the town’s schools.

Our job now is to spread the word and get as many as possible logged in, so we can start making a bigger impact, together. Keep your eyes peeled for the links soon!

Why is getting young people involved in these projects so important?

Bringing together all of this work into one powerful whole is about creating positive change, and it’s vital young people lead the way. The whole point is to empower them and give them agency to create the future they want.

Essentially, young people need the skills to be able to contribute to a resilient community for their future, and that of their future children. The way to do that is to give them a central role.

With 60% of young people now worried or extremely worried about climate change and our planet’s future, taking positive action is also a key way to reduce eco-anxiety.

After all, it’s not all doom and gloom and we can do things to change our community for the better – to create a resilient, caring and forward-thinking town by connecting to each other, to nature, and a bright future.

To find out more, or to sign up your school, email schools@sustainablepz.co.uk