The Green Schools Project, a leading initiative dedicated to empowering young people to take action on climate change, has recently secured funding from the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund. This partnership highlights the growing role of education and community-led action in accelerating the decarbonisation of Bristol. By leveraging this new funding, the Green Schools Project is taking significant steps to bring its Zero Carbon Schools (ZCS) programme to more schools and young people in the region, amplifying its impact and fostering a culture of sustainability among future generations. Behaviour change projects like this are essential to our fund, and we take great pride in supporting the facilitation of the ZCS program in Bristol. Cathy Wentworth at Green Schools Project has kindly shared their insights on why they decided to apply for the fund and their experiences throughout the process.

Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund: A Catalyst for Local Climate Action

The Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund is a £1.5 million initiative designed to support community-led energy projects across Bristol. This funding is dedicated to supporting the reduction of the city’s carbon footprint and promoting sustainable, energy-efficient solutions. With a focus on community-driven initiatives, the fund offers grants and loans to help local groups develop projects that will accelerate Bristol’s journey towards decarbonisation.

The objectives of the fund are clear: reduce the use of fossil fuels, support energy consumption reduction, and integrate communities into the city’s heat network. A particular emphasis is placed on projects that benefit underrepresented communities and those new to energy projects. Through this fund, the aim is not only to address immediate energy challenges but also to build long-term capacity within communities to continue driving energy solutions.

What is the Green Schools Project?

Green Schools Project transforms how schools respond to the climate crisis. We do this by turning climate education into action through Zero Carbon Schools (ZCS). ZCS is an interactive package of training, resources and support that enables young people to tackle climate change by designing and leading projects to reduce their school’s carbon footprint.

Zero Carbon Schools is the most comprehensive climate education programme nationwide. So far we’ve worked with over 400 schools, 20,000 pupils and 6,000 teachers to give children and young people the tools to take positive action on climate in their communities, their schools, and their lives. Bringing our programme to more schools and young people in Bristol is a key objective for us, and funding from the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund will enable us to take a big step forward this year.

Why did the Green Schools Project apply for Funding?

We know there is appetite for what we do in and around Bristol and the opportunity to apply to the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund came at a perfect time for us.

Throughout 2024, when our team members based in Bristol increased from one to three, we have built connections and partnerships with a range of organisations working towards a net-zero future for Bristol; we are the new non-profit partner for Future Leap Network, we became part of the Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership and have participated in a Bristol Education Partnership event on “Climate Change across the Curriculum”. At the same time, we started working with several schools across the city which further emphasised there was a need that we are well-placed to meet.

Through connections established at Future Leap Network’s Festival of Sustainable Business and its wider network, we have developed relationships with businesses and partner organisations across Bristol and the South West including the Global Goals Centre and Sparks Bristol, Zap Map, Binit, Pointer Consultancy and Ambition Lawrence Weston. We hope to work with these and others to bring our climate education programme to more schools and young people across the region.

We are keen to explore and develop this area of work throughout 2025. The funding and wider support from Bristol City Leap and its partners will undoubtedly support our aims to play a bigger role in Bristol’s journey to Net Zero.

The application process was straightforward, with clear guidelines and expectations, and the turnaround time was good too. The level of detail required in the application form was proportionate to the scale of funding and showed a high level of understanding of the needs of the applicants. Needless to say, we were delighted with the outcome too!

We are inspired by the approach and ambition of Bristol City Leap and would be keen to continue to work together towards net zero for Bristol. We believe strongly that climate education and youth action are crucial to tackling climate change and that young people are natural change-makers who can help inspire wider community action. We are excited to be bringing our expertise to this part of the puzzle!

How will the funding be utilised?

Support from this fund will enable us to work with a further three schools in Bristol (Whitehall Primary School, Evergreen Primary School and May Park Primary School) to deliver our Premium Zero Carbon Schools programme throughout this year.

In weekly sessions throughout the programme, pupils will explore climate change, and investigate their own school’s carbon footprint before designing and leading projects that enable positive action and inspire their school and wider community. Teachers at the schools will take part in two CPD teacher training sessions that will increase their knowledge and confidence to deliver climate education and embed sustainability into their curriculum and school life.

In addition to delivering the ZCS programme, this grant will fund a new role that will facilitate connection and collaboration with the wider community around the schools. Our Community Climate Action Manager will play a key role, helping us to amplify youth-led climate action to create an even bigger impact. The role (due to be advertised before the end of January) will work closely with pupils and support them to take their climate action further, developing long-lasting connections that will lead to wider climate action beyond the school gates.

Our Zero Carbon Schools programme has been designed for schools to deliver to Years 4 – Year 8. Most primary schools choose to run the programme with Year 5 and our secondary school ZCS programme is most commonly delivered through an Eco Team – often comprising of students from across the school.

What is the impact of youth-led climate action?

There is a clear need for high-quality climate education in schools: Nationally, around 90% of young people are ‘concerned’ about climate change. 80% say more climate education would help them make better, more sustainable life decisions. And, in the ongoing absence of statutory provisions, over 90% of teachers want more climate education in schools. [Cambridge University/Teach The Future]. Zero Carbon Schools aims to do just that!

We know that young people overwhelmingly believe that taking action on climate change is important but they do not always know how. Pupil-led action is central to Zero Carbon Schools, which supports children and young people to feel positive about their role in tackling climate change.

Our impact reporting last year showed that 95% of teachers thought that Zero Carbon Schools positively changed the way that their schools and pupils responded to the climate crisis.

Pupils also benefit from developing key skills throughout the programme:

  • 95% of pupils show improved teamwork and communication skills.
  • 82% of pupils show Improved leadership and problem-solving skills.

And through our bespoke carbon calculator designed for schools, we know that participating schools can achieve an average 6.3%/26.7 tonne reduction in carbon emissions.

An important part of this project will be to support young people to inspire wider community climate action, and further develop leadership, communication skills and confidence and agency to affect change.

In the words of a Year 5 pupil involved in the programme: “We were so happy and proud [of our project]. We felt like a part of the school, you know like we had an impact. We felt like role models in the school.”

Teachers also report that the programme has not only improved the carbon footprint of schools but also inspired students to take climate action beyond the school gates. As one teacher noted: “The best parts were the project work and inspiring other pupils, the independence to collect data and research. It was so purposeful and their acts will make a difference to our carbon footprint which very much empowered them.”

What’s next for the Green Schools Project in Bristol?

This year, Green Schools Project will be working with five schools across Bristol and many more across the South West. Within the Bristol schools alone, over 200 young people and 100 teachers will be supported to take positive action on climate change. To follow their progress as well as the 150 other schools across the UK, follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky or Instagram. And to find out more about how you can get involved, contact tom@greenschoolsproject.org.uk.

Conclusion: Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

The Green Schools Project’s success with the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund underscores the importance of collaboration in tackling the climate crisis. By empowering young people with the tools and knowledge to take meaningful action, Green Schools Project is laying the groundwork for a sustainable future—one where the next generation leads the charge towards a net-zero world. Their work serves as a model for how community-based initiatives, when supported by targeted funding, can catalyse real and lasting change in the fight against climate change.

For more information on available funding from Bristol City Leap, visit our Community Energy Fund page.