Carbon Busters5 May 2010
Melanie Merrill is a youth worker in Somerset.
She and her family featured in The Green Life - ITN's 'green makeover' experiment in 2006.
The programme provided us with a real wake up call about the impact our lifestyle was having on the planet.
Melanie incorporated what she learnt about climate change into her work. And now runs Carbon busters, a climate change awareness programme for 11-16 year olds in her local area.
Why did you decide to focus on 11-16s?
...because, although climate change is being delivered through the curriculum, teachers have very little time to cover such topics in great depth. And ultimately:
I want to engage young people's help in the fight to tackle climate change.
What kind of activities do you ask the students to do?
I get them to think about their every day life, and the energy they use (particularly in their own bedrooms). And then we all come up with solutions on how they can reduce their energy use.
What's your advice to others wanting to work with young people?
Climate change education aimed at young people has to be young person specific...
It has to be embedded within modern day youth culture with messages that young people clearly understand and can relate to.
Carbon busters is delivered free to schools/groups. Melanie has received a small grant from the DfES Community Champions fund and support from the c-change trust.
© Balthazar Serreau/Friends of the Earth
