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While this memorable, milestone event took place on a specific day, and involved over 50 representatives of young people from across Redruth,  we want to pay tribute to all the young people – literally hundreds –  who helped their representatives prepare by together taking responsibility for a theme or presentation on behalf of their school community.  These ‘deep dive’ areas varied from healthy rivers and seas and fairer futures, to food for the future and the importance of young people’s voices being heard. RJ Working team members are so impressed by the knowledge, confidence and commitment of Redruth’s young people to making things better for planet earth.

Exclusive use of the iconic Cornish venue  Kresen Kernow (the Cornish History Library in the heart of Redruth)  worked well to support the creative and inspiring exchange of learning between groups of young people chosen for this special and motivating experience through an equity lens. Using Restorative Practice circles throughout the event, as they had in preparation, enabled deeper connections and conversations (this was NOT a passive audience !)

Spellbound by guest speaker Daze Aghaji, a London-based inspirational changemaker,  the young people participated in environmental justice workshops exploring why the impacts of the climate crisis are not experienced equally and how using our voices for fairness can help create a more just future. The workshop encouraged everyone to think about what part they will play in making things better.   Other more hands-on workshop themes included the important creative skill of upcycling through repurposing materials, and ‘Letters to the Earth’, when young people took time to write powerful, empathic messages to the earth, then shared these with one another.

The RJ Working team intends that this event, its preparations and legacy, form a systemic-level change in young people’s understanding of the importance of climate and nature issues; also, that this will be the first of many Climate~Nature Youth Conferences in Redruth.  In turn, we plan to share this successful process in other towns across Cornwall and continually sow the seeds of youth-led action for climate and nature, which younger generations can then develop and grow.