Co-creating opportunities to foster eco-hope

Join Nifty Sustainability and researchers and students at the University of Leeds in this 2-hour workshop to explore how working with organisations in the voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE) sector can help young people cope with negative impacts of eco-emotions, as well as help enterprises meet their goals.  

We will use participatory and creative methods to explore how the sector is responding to local social, environmental and economic justice issues, the knowledge and skills needed to enable young people to contribute to the work being done, and to identify potential opportunities for young people to get involved.  

This summer, the planet has seen some of the highest temperatures on record. Impacts and consequences of the changing climate have been difficult to avoid. Anxiety linked to climate change and ecological crises is growing, particularly in young people, indicating a clear threat to mental wellbeing. Alongside anxiety, young people describe feeling fearful, angry, sad, overwhelmed and hopeless when considering the future.  

Eco-emotions can also have positive impacts, particularly when the reality of crises is acknowledged and accompanied by opportunities to engage and respond.  We know of many enterprises in and around Leeds doing fantastic work to tackle social, environmental and economic challenges and believe there is potential within the sector to provide, and benefit from, opportunities for young people to build the skills and drive required to get involved. 

We hope participating in this event will enable opportunities to be developed in a way that enables the VCSE sector to work with young people to achieve mutual benefit.  

Dr Rachael Carrie, Lecturer in Environment and Society and Dr Jonathan Busch, Lecturer in Sustainability 

Organisations in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in and around Leeds who want to work with young people to address local environmental, social and economic justice issues 

The event will be of particular interest to those wishing to support young people experiencing negative impacts associated with eco-emotions through provision of opportunities to engage in action 

TBC

28th October