The Jack Petchey Environmental Award & Environmental Award Grant

This blog highlights the importance of the Environmental Award and Environmental Award Grant in empowering youth-led projects to create real change.

Why This Programme Matters

I have been amazed by the creativity and commitment of the young people who have been nominated for Environmental Awards. Even though I knew that young people have strong determination and incredible ideas about how to benefit the environment in their local communities, I have still been blown away by the extraordinary achievements that led to their nominations and the imaginative projects that followed.

The team and I were thrilled to give 47 young people an Environmental Award last year. This grant programme might be small, but its impact and importance are huge, and we want to see even more young people being recognised for their passion and leadership in driving environmental change.

It’s also been brilliant to see some of these award winners proudly receive their handcrafted wooden medallions, made from recycled wood, at our Achievement Award ceremonies, a moment that truly celebrates their hard work and dedication.

Young People Leading the Way

We know that young people not only have a passion for championing environmental action but also come up with their own practical ways to turn this passion into reality, through their own projects, awareness campaigns and initiatives.

Working on this grant programme has been such a privilege. I’ve been extremely impressed by the incredible efforts young people were already making in their local organisations and communities, efforts that earned them a nomination for the Environmental Award. From volunteering in second-hand shops to litter picking and conservation work, their passion for protecting the planet was clear from the start.

One young person, for example, has been a driving force in their school’s sustainability efforts- setting up with a partnership with a local organisation on Hampstead Heath, motivating others in environmental workshops, and even spearheading a Sustainable Clothing Swap to encouraging their peers to make eco-conscious fashion choices. Their leadership and enthusiasm show exactly why the Jack Petchey Environmental Award exists: to recognise, celebrate and support young people who are making a real environmental difference.

From Environmental Award Winner to Grant Recipient

Once you have nominated a young person for an Environmental Award and it is confirmed, they will be given the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £300 to help bring their environmental project ideas to life. Our aim to give these young people the support they need at a time when we should all be more environmentally focused. And there is no one better to lead the charge than young people!

We’ve seen climate-awareness music videos, energy-saving initiatives in schools, the creation of animal shelters and so many more. Every idea reflects their commitment to making a positive difference every single day. It’s inspiring to see what happens when young people are given the tools and support to turn their ideas into action.

Get Involved

So, whether you’re a young person looking to take environmental action, a leader within your organisation, or a Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme Coordinator wanting to celebrate your environmental champions, visit the Environmental Award web page for more information and get applying through the community area. Young people should speak to their organisation’s coordinator about the grant!

I would love for more organisations to get involved in the grant programme so that all environmental champions receive the recognition they deserve and so they can continue building a healthier and happier planet for everyone!

By Mary Bealt, Grants Officer & Lead for the Environmental Award Programme