Toyota helps children shape schools of the future

The Eco-Schools programme, backed with funding by Toyota, will help Groundwork involve schoolchildren in the whole process of monitoring, action planning and decision making in the sustainable development of their school by forming an action team with local adults to lessen its impact on the environment.

By advising on ways the school can save energy and water, reduce waste and implement recycling schemes the youngsters will be encouraging action that will benefit their school by increasing its environmental performance and ability to lower its costs. The global significance of local actions is also highlighted as part of the programme with schoolchildren from the UK, Poland and Czech Republic exchanging ideas on the issue with each other.

Tony Hawkhead, Groundwork’s Chief Executive, said, “Young people will be affected by climate change more than any other group but are given few opportunities to feed into any local decision making processes.

“By encouraging schoolchildren to consider what changes need to be made to make their school a more stimulating and environmentally sustainable place to learn they also learn about sustainable development and gain an increased sense of responsibility for the school and the local and global environment.”

Sarah Fisher, Director, HR & Environmental Strategy of Toyota (GB) PLC said, "We are extremely pleased to be able to provide support to this particular programme. For Toyota, minimising environmental impact has long been a top priority at every level of the company’s organisation and activity. This is an excellent opportunity to facilitate this work with schoolchildren to help raise awareness and the importance of climate change on our future.

“It is our aim through programmes of this nature to encourage school children to get involved and to take actions that will benefit their school by increasing their school’s environmental performance and ability to lower its costs. We see this as an opportunity to encourage school children to become actively involved in sustainable development, and to make a positive contribution in their local community.”

Credits: Jarvis