London Wildlife Trust has been awarded £244,996 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, young 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 will support young people to connect with their peers, build confidence, and boost physical and mental wellbeing.
Sessions will take place in Sydenham Hill Wood, Southwark; Walthamstow Wetlands, Waltham Forest; Hutchinson’s Bank, Croydon; and 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 Spread the Word, Black Girls Hike, and London Youth to deliver Nature Nurtures.
Details for how young people can get involved can be found on the website: https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/nature-nurtures
Volunteering Futures is a ring-fenced, time-limited fund, making £4.7 million available through the Arts Council’s National Lottery Project Grants programme.
Tonya Nelson, Area Director, London, Arts Council England, said: “Volunteering is a brilliant opportunity for young people to come together, build their confidence, and gain work experience to shape their future career pathways. Thanks to government funding, the Arts Council is pleased to support London Wildlife Trust’s exciting project, Nature Nurtures. Through creative workshops and activities, young people will be able to discover London’s unique natural spaces and wildlife, and understand how we can take action to protect them.”
Leah McNally, Director of Learning, Youth & 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.”
