330 children based in Haringey and Hackney, aged between 6 and 13, all with potential to make a difference to our planet...
These are the young people who make up Love the Planet - an initiative run by Clapton Common Boys Club aiming to engender a love for the planet among girls and boys, through education.
The programme teaches a group of young people, many of whom have not been encouraged to recycle to date, how to respect and protect our environment through resource preservation and other vital waste prevention activities. It generates awareness around four key environmental areas; pollution, saving resources, recycling everyday materials and food waste recycling.
Clapton Common Boys Club also redistributes leftover food to the Felix Project, helping children learn pro-environmental behaviours first-hand while contributing to a community service and building a sense of social and environmental responsibility.
We spoke to Love the Planet’s project manager, Malky, to get a deeper understanding of what sparked the idea for the initiative and the impact it’s making in north London.
How did the concept for ’Love the Planet’ come about? What is it that makes you want to reduce waste?
The concept 'Love the Planet' emerged following a successful pilot summer programme focused on protecting the environment. This pilot highlighted children’s enthusiasm and potential for environmental activities.
Although we had previously run various recycling initiatives, we realised there was a need for a more comprehensive and sustained approach. Recognising the gap in environmental education and the importance of instilling eco-friendly habits and awareness from a young age, we dedicated time and resources to develop 'Love the Planet.'
This programme is designed to provide continuous education and hands-on activities in a fun and engaging way for children. The ultimate goal is to help participants to gain a sound understanding of the environmental issues around them.
Tell us about the pilot project which led to the creation of ‘Love the Planet’
Our motivation to reduce waste stems from a deep-seated belief in the importance of preserving our planet for future generations.
By educating children and involving them in community service, we aim to foster a sense of responsibility and empowerment. We believe that by equipping young people with knowledge and practical skills, we can inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious individuals who will contribute to a sustainable future.
Which impact has Love the Planet had on young people at Clapton Common Boys so far?
Our aim is to embed the waste reduction skills we’re teaching the children, so that they become habits and have a long-term impact. So far we’re seeing lots of positive change, with young people understanding new concepts, picking up good behaviours and asking great questions.
We hope the programme manages to have a far-reaching and lasting effect on the Jewish community, enabling more people to engage in this vital waste prevention activity.
Tell us about the sessions Love the Planet involves.
We set up the initiative to cover a range of topics which affect us all and are relevant to our day-to-day. The project is divided into four main areas:
- Pollution; we educate participants about the impact of pollution and ways to mitigate it e.g. through examining the quality of pond water or collecting and sorting through rubbish.
- Saving resources; this focuses on the importance of conserving energy and water. We do this through things like looking at light usage and lessons in turning off taps and measuring water waste.
- Recycling; we teach young people effective recycling practices e.g. what can and can’t be recycled, using recycling materials for craft activities.
- Food recycling; we demonstrate food waste reduction and redistribution e.g. showing young people how to prepare meals using leftovers, composting and using organic waste.
Which sessions have the children enjoyed the most so far?
All sessions have been equally interactive and exciting. It’s lovely to see the children enjoying them so much.
Where is the project heading? What are your hopes for the future o?
We will continue running sessions and reaching outcomes and targets, to help children across the boroughs gain knowledge, skills and empowerment to protect the planet. Along the way the young people involved are already showing strong team-building skills and they are developing a sense of shared responsibility for preserving the planet’s resources, and we look forward to seeing that grow.
Love the Planet is all about community. With this in mind, we are encouraging family engagement and local partnerships to expand the programme's reach and impact. All going well, we would love to run the service for more children in future.
Published
18 February 2025
