Young climate change champions gather

More than 150 pupils from schools across Derby have discussed their climate change concerns as part of a Derby City Council initiative.

The children were joined by local businesses and industry experts for The Festival of Ideas – an exciting day of interactive workshops at Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium, as part of the Derby Promise.

A Derby City Council initiative, the Derby Promise focuses on raising employment aspirations and providing meaningful opportunities for the city’s young people, from primary school through to adult education.

Taking place during Science Week, the Festival of Ideas saw pupils share knowledge around climate concerns while learning about a range of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) career paths.

They also had the opportunity to speak directly with councillors and local leaders about changes they’d like to see, and to ask important questions around their own power to make a difference.

Workshops were provided by industry experts from Rolls Royce, Wates Construction, Aecom and Climate Education, each exploring different aspects of sustainability and climate action.

Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council cabinet member for children, young people and skills, said: “Meeting new people and gaining first-hand experience of what a job can entail is such an important step in inspiring and motivating children, helping them to see what’s possible, what they can work towards.

“The element of fun in each activity really helped too – these are jobs and projects they can enjoy and feel inspired to pursue.”