Environmental Education & Youth Training in London
We use revenues from community-owned solar projects to fund environmental education programmes.
Energy Garden Youth Training Programme
The traineeship is paid at London Living Wage and AQA-certified. Young adults across London gain valuable experience in cooperative business practices, environmental technology, communications, and community development which allows them to take their careers forward. Programme details:
2-6 hours/week coursework and field studies, 40+ hrs total:
Paid at London Living Wage £13.85/hr
Access to industry experts
Career mentoring and support
Applications are now open for the next cohort, starting in February 2025. Check our blog for articles by former youth trainees Elizabeth and Jamil for inspiration!
Lizzie, 2022 Youth Trainee:
“I am interested in the international change towards renewable energy and efficiency as well as the financial and social hurdles that come with it. However, I would like to expand my interests further into more community-based projects facilitating local business and financial change towards energy sustainability. Therefore, I am interested in Energy Garden’s aim of creating community infrastructure that contributes to London’s green environment. Right now, Energy Garden has a big impact on reducing TfL’s carbon rates as well as Greater London’s. Therefore, in five years’ time, I believe that The Energy Garden can contribute to the installations of low carbon energy systems across other local practices in London.”
School Workshop Programme
Free / Curriculum-linked
Our Schools programme now extends from KS2 to KS5, offering both garden-based workshops and classroom sessions which run throughout the academic year. Children extend their knowledge and understanding of the importance of green spaces in urban areas, the impact of urbanisation on humans and wildlife whilst assessing various methods of mitigating these impacts in areas of London by examining case studies in Asian green cities.
Children learn about the problems faced due to fossil fuels and the importance of renewable energy whilst engaging in practical experiments using solar panels to better understand how solar energy works.
With the onset of Spring, schools are now participating in horticulture workshops outdoors, which reinforce their understanding of plant life cycles, categories and requirements for life. Children have opportunities to participate in surveying and gardening activities which are tailored to the green spaces of a school.
Sign your school up for free workshops by Energy Garden by emailing leila@energygarden.org.uk.
Feedback from Schools
“Children loved using the solar panels, but they also really benefited from thinking about local green spaces using the maps.”
— Teacher from Burlington Junior School
“The workshop enabled the children to get firsthand understanding of sustainability and how the impact of climate change has impacted on physical features and green spaces.”
— Teacher from Jubilee Primary School
“Great teacher: engaging, knowledgeable and able to cater to individual needs. Children accessed practical experiments using equipment they would not otherwise have access to.”
— Teacher from East Sheen Primary School
“Children were really able to think about energy and how we use it at home and at school. Many children came to talk to SLT about using solar energy.”
— Teacher from Jubilee Primary School