Climate Change and Barnsley
“Schools are there to give children the knowledge and skills they need to become active members of society. Many children are rightly worried about climate change, global poverty and the impact of our lifestyles. Schools can demonstrate ways of living that are models of good practice for children and their communities. They can build sustainable development into the learning experience of every child to encourage innovation and improvement.” Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education, 2006
There is strong evidence that it is human beings who are making the climate change rather than nature. To make electricity, power our transport and keep industry running we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, gas, petrol and diesel. This releases billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere every year - and CO2 is the main greenhouse gas.
Barnsley Council and its partners including Groundwork and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) are committed to tackling climate change across the borough by helping everyone reduce carbon emissions, adapt to the effects of climate change and increase awareness and understanding of the different climate change issues. In particular, they are supporting schools to take action against climate change.
Support for schools
Barnsley Eco-Schools
The Eco-Schools Programme is an international award scheme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed environmental management principles into the heart of the school.
It allows schools to work towards three awards - Bronze, Silver and the prestigious Green Flag. The programme is free to schools and once registered schools work through a range of activities:
- Setting up an Eco-Committee
- Undertaking an Environmental Review
- Putting together an Action Plan
- Developing an Eco-Code
- Involving the whole school and the wider local community
- Linking to the curriculum
- Checking progress and revising plans, as necessary
17 Barnsley schools have registered to become Eco-Schools. Robert Gillicker can offer advice and has links with a wide variety of people and organisations that can help.
Groundwork Local Action 21 Project
Local Action 21 is a plan of action for the 21st century to consider the environmental, social and economic wellbeing of local people. It involves everyone playing a part in improving the quality of life for people in Barnsley, now and for future generations.
The project has 2 main aims:
- Awareness Raising and Education
This can be in the form of providing resource information and contacts for teachers, delivering assemblies, lesson plans and practical activities on a broad range of environmental and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) themes, including ecological footprinting - Environmental Projects
Assistance in helping to nurture ideas, plan, find funding, implement and ensure genuinely sustainable projects, especially on the themes of climate change and biodiversity
Groundwork is currently working with 9 Barnsley schools towards becoming 'Sustainable Schools' through Groundwork's Green Check programme. For more information, contact David Wilde, Project Officer or telephone 01226 740077
Dearne Valley Green Heart
Dearne Valley Green Heart (DVGH) partnership encourages young people to appreciate, understand and enjoy their local green spaces and wildlife. It works with local schools to raise awareness of green assets, environmental issues and encourage healthy, active lifestyles. The key education aims include:
- Encouraging young people to take an active interest in the local environment and pride in their community
- Reconnecting young people with the natural environment as a place to live, work and play
- Raising awareness of climate change and flood risks
The project offers an innovative programme linked to the national curriculum and includes live productions and interactive resources culminating in an awards ceremony at the end of the school year.
Barnsley College:
Students are incorporating DVGH into their “Working to a Professional Brief” component of the curriculum. DVGH have “commissioned” three departments to produce content for DVGHs' interactive teaching resources, which will be produced by the college (for students by students) in the form of a CD ROM that will be uploaded onto a teaching website.
Barnsley Youth Service:
RSPB are also working with an alternative education provider (Barnsley Youth Service in partnership with Wombwell High School) to provide students with an opportunity to regenerate a vandalised underpass south of RSPB Old Moor reserve by painting a mural. RSPB have commissioned Spearfish (an organisation that delivers workshops and coordinates community projects) to work with the youth people, teaching techniques in graffiti art and offering guidance during design and installation.
City Learning Centre Foulstone:
RSPB and the City Learning Centre (CLC) at Foulstone are producing teaching material, leaflets and a website for DVGH. By working to a professional brief provided by DVGH, students are developing their skills and will have an opportunity to shadow CLC's web designer.
To find out more, contact the Education Coordinator, Nicola Scothern.
RSPB
As a lead partner of the DVGH, RSPB can offer education expertise based on established teaching programmes at Old Moor that follow Learning Outside of the Classroom initiatives. Over 3000 schoolchildren have visited the reserve to learn more about biodiversity guided by our field teachers. Contact the Life Long Learning Manger, Kevin Moore or phone 01226 273834
Care4Air
Care4Air is a partnership between the four South Yorkshire local authorities and is funded by the South Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.
Care4Air aims to raise awareness of air quality issues and highlight what is happening in the region to improve the quality of our air. In particular, Care4Air aims to provide individuals, organisations, schools and businesses with information that will enable them to 'do their bit' and improve air quality.
Barnsley Climate School News
