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 at Parliamentary Event as part of the evaluation of the Our Bright Future Programme

CEP participated in a Parliamentary Event in Westminster as part of our role in evaluating the Our Bright Future Programme

Photo courtesy of The Wildlife Trust

CEP’s Owen White attended a Parliamentary Event at Portcullis House in Westminster, London organised by the Our Bright Future Programme. The event was used to highlight to MPs and senior civil servants the successes of the Programme, and in particular provide an opportunity to communicate three key changes young people want to see: more time spent learning in and about nature; support to get into environmental job; more attention to be paid to the needs of young people and the environment.

CEP’s participation was as part of our role in the ongoing evaluation of the Our Bright Future Programme. We were observing the event and meeting with participants from the Programme and MPs to help understand the role of the event in meeting Programme objectives related to encouraging changes in policy and practice. For more information contact Owen White (Technical Director)

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.