Chester Zoo launches world's first Conservation Changemakers' Toolkit for young people
The Conservation Changemakers' Toolkit has been developed with young people, for young people to empower and enable them to take action for conservation in their own lives.
It was crucial that young people were involved from the start of the project, leading the development through feedback sessions and focus groups and contributing to content development. Here at the zoo, we recognise the power that young people have to make meaningful change happen in the conservation sector when their voices are heard.
Find out more and download the Conservation Changemakers’ Toolkit >
It’s been an amazing journey, working with many different young people from South and West Cheshire College, Cheshire West and Chester’s Youth Senate, #iwill Ambassadors and other young volunteers to work out exactly what was needed to bring this to fruition. I’m really proud of what we’ve created together, and hope that more young people are empowered to take meaningful social action for conservation through accessing the toolkit.
Lauren Walker, Digital Learning Manager
#iwill
Earlier in 2024, we signed The Power of Youth Charter, part of the #iwill movement, solidifying our commitment to working with young people in meaningful ways and providing opportunities for their voices to be heard within our programmes and projects. We want to empower young people by acknowledging the value they have at the zoo.
Inspiring collaboration
One of our consultation sessions was with some brilliant #iwill ambassadors like Hinal who provided some feedback and direction throughout for further developments: "The toolkit is an amazing way for young people to start their journey in managing projects I have loved reading through it."
Environmental changemaker, Emma Greenwood, is a 20-year-old youth voice and climate champion. She started getting involved in changemaking when she was 16 and became the Young Member of Parliament for Bury, as well as helping to co-found the Manchester branch of the global Youth Strike 4 Climate Movement.
As young people, we aren't just the generation of the future—we're the generation of NOW. The choices we make every day directly shape our present and future, which is why it's crucial for us to take action on social and environmental issues."
This toolkit is my way of providing the resources I wish had been available to me. Working alongside and being supported by Chester Zoo in making this toolkit has been a true honour and an opportunity I could only have dreamed of when starting my changemaker journey!
Emma Greenwood, Youth Strike 4 Climate Movement
We also worked with Learning Designer, Joseph from Scaffold Creative, who created a similar social action tool, Change in Box, during the COVID pandemic. His expertise from working directly with young people on social action projects as well as being a facilitator of various youth groups throughout his career has been invaluable when creating the materials for the toolkit.
Through the youth consultations I worked on with the zoo, we discovered that many young people are passionate about making the world a better place in varied ways. However, with the increasing pressures of modern life, the idea of making a real difference can seem overwhelming.
That's why community leaders play a crucial role in inspiring young people to become changemakers. It’s been fantastic working with such friendly, dedicated experts at Chester Zoo. Everyone I’ve met has shown huge commitment to preventing extinction.
Joseph, Learning Designer at Scaffold Creative
Creating a better future for everyone
We’ve launched the Conservation Changemakers’ Toolkit as part of this year’s #iwill week which is focused on the varied experience of young people across the UK. The toolkit itself has been created in a format which allows for young people’s freedom and agency in how they make change happen – providing guidance and tools to encourage them to go about doing it in the most effective ways for them.
“We're excited and impressed by the work being developed by the team at Chester Zoo. Working with organisations who truly want to ensure young people, and their social action, are at the heart of change making is a real privilege, so it's fantastic to see the launch of the toolkit after months of youth led activity to develop it.”
Holly Notcutt, Head of Partnerships and Impact at #iwill
Changemaking doesn’t have to be about creating a global campaign, it can be small, everyday actions like swapping to more sustainable products and inspiring others to do the same. As part of the toolkit, we asked young changemakers to share their own stories in changemaking to help inspire and encourage others to join the movement; our hope is that more and more young people share their stories with us to add to this growing community of young changemakers.
Big plans
You might already be a Changemaker in your own right! Did you know you can get Chester Zoo award for being a Champion in Conservation?
This work is part of our ambitious target, as part of our Conservation Masterplan, to empower 10 million people to live more sustainably for the benefit of wildlife by 2031. By taking on the challenge to make small (or big) changes, our aim is to empower as many young people as we can to take the steps to make more sustainable choices and encourage others in their journey. Changemaking is all about progress through individual action but a huge part of it is also sharing this with others and amplifying the message.
How can I get involved?
If you’d like to get involved in further developments with the Conservation Changemakers’ Toolkit, e-mail: youthnetwork@chesterzoo.org
