CEP have completed a series of virtual focus groups and interviews on youth environmental leadership

This stage of research has been successfully completed as part of the Our Bright Future programme evaluation.

CEP have been carrying out a series of online focus groups and interviews as part of a thematic study on youth environmental leadership. The study is part of the evaluation of the Our Bright Future programme currently being carried out by CEP and partners ERS, on behalf of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

The overall objective of the focus groups and interviews was to better understand to what extent, and in what ways, being involved in Our Bright Future projects has empowered young people and equipped them to be active environmental citizens, and should they choose, environmental leaders.

In light of the global pandemic, we have been using Zoom video conferencing technology to carry out research that would normally be done face-to-face. The focus groups were designed using interactive software and break-out sessions, with an agenda designed to maximise engagement in an online setting. A total of three virtual focus groups, each with six participants from across three selected case study OBF programmes have now been successfully completed, along with a series of individual video interviews with 11 OBF participants from a wider selection of projects, and six project staff. 

We are now entering the analysis stage of this research and plan to include participating young people in this analysis and review of the final report.

For more information about the project please contact Owen White (technical director) or Rebecca Jones (consultant).

CEP conducting thematic study on Environmental Youth Leadership

CEP are conducting a thematic study on Environmental Youth Leadership as part of the Our Bright Future Programme evaluation

CEP and partners from ERS are currently carrying out three thematic studies as part of the on-going evaluation of the Our Bright Future programme for the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.  The studies are exploring skills development for Our Bright Future participants, pathways of Our Bright Future alumni (both led by ERS), and Youth Environmental Leadership (led by CEP).  

The overall objective of the youth leadership thematic study is to better understand to what extent, and in what ways, being involved in Our Bright Future projects has empowered young people and equipped them to be active environmental citizens, and should they choose, environmental leaders.

The thematic study will include a literature review, the selection of a small number of case study projects, focus groups and interviews with young people and interviews with project staff.  CEP are developing all aspects of the study and will design and facilitate the focus groups and telephone interviews

In light of the current COVID-19 situation, some elements of the project will be disrupted.  We are taking this into consideration and are currently in conversation with Our Bright Future project managers to decide on the best approach moving forward.  Of course, our main priority is keeping staff, Our Bright Future teams and young people safe and healthy.

For more information about the project please contact Owen White (technical director) or Rebecca Jones (consultant).

CEP to evaluate Big Lottery Fund's Our Bright Future Programme

Photo credit: 'Blazin Sun' by Stephen Bowler on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

CEP and partners ERS to evaluate Big Lottery Fund's Our Bright Future Programme

CEP, with partners Economic Research Services (ERS), are undertaking the evaluation of the Our Bright Future Programme. The Our Bright Future Programme aims to empower young people to lead progressive change in their communities and local environment, through a portfolio of 31 projects across the UK, each with a duration of three to five years. The Programme is supported by £33 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund, and is managed by a consortium of eight organisations led by The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. 

The supported projects range in scale from those with a local focus to national level delivering in multiple areas. All the projects are based around key themes including: environmental action, environmental campaigning, leadership and influencing, and sustainable enterprises and vocational training.

CEP and ERS have been commissioned by the Royal Society of  Wildlife Trusts to undertake the Programme level evaluation. The evaluation aims to:

• Test whether the Our Bright Future Programme has achieved its long term ambitions
• Provide better evidence on how young people can improve their local environment
• Test and evidence whether a partnership way of working that invests in human, social and natural capital, is an effective means by which to deliver greater impact
• Identify good practice and ongoing improvements

Owen White is CEP’s lead for this project.