The Awards are an initiative of the Faith & Belief Forum and supported by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater London’s Council on Faith. The Awards were set up to demonstrate how Londoners of all faiths and beliefs can work together for a fairer and more inclusive city. Each winning project receives £500 to further their work. This is the first time the event has been held at Westminster Abbey where Keeping it Wild trainee Alumni Nazia and Youth Programmes Manager Emily accepted the award. The ceremony brought together people from across London who work for harmony and inclusion in their communities. In addition to the 38 projects given awards, the achievements of inspiring individuals were recognised, and the great work of a further 60 projects highlighted.

Since 2018, London Wildlife Trust has been delivering the Keeping it Wild programme which successfully inspired over 1000 young people aged 11-25 to become actively involved in the protection and promotion of London’s natural heritage. Young people took part in Environmental Social Action Projects in their local communities, completed Paid Traineeships and were involved with our Youth Forum with the overall aim of making nature more inclusive, accessible and relevant to young people living in London.

The programme focused on young people who are typically under-represented in the environmental sector, with 93% of young people coming from at least one of the target groups: Black, Asian or minoritised ethnic heritage (76%), disabled young people (30%) or young people from lower socio-economic communities (41% of Keeping It Wild participants live in the top 20% most deprived communities in England). The project really set out to help change the face of the environmental movement! Read the Final Impact Report here

Keeping it Wild was not just about engaging young people in nature and wildlife; it had a specific focus on reaching groups that are traditionally under-represented in the natural heritage sector. By working with organisations that have existing relationships with groups that support Black, Asian or minoritised ethnic heritage, disabled young people or young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, Keeping it Wild was able to maintain this focus and successfully reach a diverse audience. As a result, through the Keeping it Wild project, London Wildlife Trust has both inspired young people for whom nature and wildlife had little relevance in their lives, as well as helped connect young people with a passion for nature to the sector and helped build skills, knowledge of career opportunities and networks.

All strands of Keeping it Wild incorporated elements where young people had a choice, their voices were listened to and they were involved in co-designing their experience. Young people were given ownership and responsibility for designing and delivering social action projects in their communities, which helped to build leadership and teamworking skills. We received further funding for the project which means we have had the exciting opportunity to continue the impactful work being achieved with young people at the Trust.

A massive thank you to all the young people who have worked incredibly hard whilst part of this project and who's input had made a long standing difference to the project and the way the trust engages with young people as a whole. 

This opportunity is funded by the Mayor of London and the National Lottery Heritage Fund with support from the Westminster Foundation, the Kusama Trust and The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.

Find out more about this project by downloading the press release here

If you are interested in this opportunity for your group of young people, please get in touch: efox@wildlondon.org.uk   

For more information, images and interviews please contact marketing@wildlondon.org.uk