Young Londoners are shaping environmental and sustainability projects within the Square Mile and beyond, thanks to a new Youth Natural Environment Board (YNEB) which met for the first time on Friday 8 November.

The City of London Corporation’s scheme brings together current pupils and alumni from its Family of Schools, providing a platform for young voices to influence the City Corporation’s environmental policies, and cultivate leadership and advocacy skills in sustainability.

The organisation is the governing body of the Square Mile, and a major services provider in London and beyond.

It sponsors high-performing schools in some of the capital’s most disadvantaged areas across several boroughs through the City of London Academies Trust. It is also the local education authority for one maintained primary school in the City of London, and the proprietor of four independent schools.

It also protects over 11,000 acres of parks, forests, heaths, gardens, and historic open spaces across London and southeast England – including Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath – and is delivering an ambitious Climate Action Strategy to reach net zero in its own operations by 2027.

The first YNEB meeting took place at Hampstead Heath, where a range of topics were discussed, including raising climate change awareness, reducing waste, harvesting rainwater, and using greener sources of energy.

The YNEB will work closely with the City Corporation’s own Natural Environment Board – the overarching policy and strategic body in relation to the activities of the City Corporation’s open spaces – presenting innovative policy proposals.

As part of this initiative, the City Corporation is working with the University of Surrey's Institute for Sustainability to develop a youth-led curriculum, and the Royal Commonwealth Society and St Mary’s University (Twickenham) on a global campaign to clean up the world’s oceans, including a River Thames clean-up.

Chair of the City Corporation’s Natural Environment Board, Caroline Haines, said:

“The creation of a new Youth Board presents a unique opportunity to harness the energy, creativity, and passion of young people to help drive environmental action and sustainability within the city.

“After all, they are the next generation of problem solvers, and by giving them a voice through a formal channel, we can all work together towards a greener, more resilient future for the City of London.

“I am looking forward to working with so many inspired young people and cannot wait to hear their ideas.”

Simon Lightman of King Edward’s School, Witley, and lead teacher for the YNEB, added:

“This is a great initiative, and I am immensely proud of our students who came forward to make this idea become a reality.

“Young people are at the heart of tackling climate change. Giving them a voice and a platform to feel engaged with, and listened to, is crucial to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.”

Jacob Sprake, King Edward’s School alumnus and the originator of the Youth Natural Environment Board concept, said:

“The creation of the Youth Natural Environment Board is an amazing opportunity for young people, enabling collaboration on key issues and empowering them to create innovative solutions to address environmental and sustainable challenges within the City of London.

“Climate change will affect this generation on a greater scale than ever before, therefore it is important that the youth of today are equipped with the necessary skills and support to adapt, and succeed, in facing these ever-changing environmental challenges.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The City Corporation invests more than £38m a year in protecting over 11,000 acres of open space across London and southeast England, which includes over 180 parks, churchyards, and areas of green space within the Square Mile

These green spaces, most of which are charitable trusts, are run at little or no cost to the communities that they serve. They include important wildlife habitats, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and National Nature Reserves. 

They remove around 16,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere every year, equivalent to 70% of the organisation’s annual carbon footprint.

A recent report into the value of the City Corporation’s green spaces within the Square Mile revealed their worth at £126.8 million every year in benefits to society, with a present value of £3.6 billion over 50 years.

The following schools will be represented at the YNEB: City Academy Hackney; City of London Academy Trust Southwark; City of London Freemen's School; City of London School for Girls; Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre; and King Edward's School, Witley (Lead).

King Edward’s School Witley, a school of the Bridewell Royal Hospital Foundation (‘The Foundation’)

The Foundation was founded by Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, who in 1553 inspired the young King Edward VI to grant Bridewell Palace in the City of London to the Lord Mayor to house, care and educate girls and boys within The Bridewell Royal Hospital.  Significant financial support was offered from the City of London, including from the Lord Mayor and livery companies to establish Bridewell as a place of learning, serving those whose needs meant that they needed an opportunity to learn skills for independence.

In 1860, the School was renamed King Edward’s, as a school of the Bridewell Royal Hospital Foundation, and in 1867 moved to its current site in Witley.  

Extensive Royal and City of London connections are maintained; HRH Duchess of Gloucester is President of the Foundation, the Lord Mayor attends Bridewell’s annual Service of Thanksgiving and Admissions Day, and a number of Bridewell events are held in London each year – www.kesw.org.