CEP have completed a series of virtual focus groups and interviews on youth environmental leadership

This stage of research has been successfully completed as part of the Our Bright Future programme evaluation.

CEP have been carrying out a series of online focus groups and interviews as part of a thematic study on youth environmental leadership. The study is part of the evaluation of the Our Bright Future programme currently being carried out by CEP and partners ERS, on behalf of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

The overall objective of the focus groups and interviews was to better understand to what extent, and in what ways, being involved in Our Bright Future projects has empowered young people and equipped them to be active environmental citizens, and should they choose, environmental leaders.

In light of the global pandemic, we have been using Zoom video conferencing technology to carry out research that would normally be done face-to-face. The focus groups were designed using interactive software and break-out sessions, with an agenda designed to maximise engagement in an online setting. A total of three virtual focus groups, each with six participants from across three selected case study OBF programmes have now been successfully completed, along with a series of individual video interviews with 11 OBF participants from a wider selection of projects, and six project staff. 

We are now entering the analysis stage of this research and plan to include participating young people in this analysis and review of the final report.

For more information about the project please contact Owen White (technical director) or Rebecca Jones (consultant).

CEP conducting thematic study on Environmental Youth Leadership

CEP are conducting a thematic study on Environmental Youth Leadership as part of the Our Bright Future Programme evaluation

CEP and partners from ERS are currently carrying out three thematic studies as part of the on-going evaluation of the Our Bright Future programme for the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.  The studies are exploring skills development for Our Bright Future participants, pathways of Our Bright Future alumni (both led by ERS), and Youth Environmental Leadership (led by CEP).  

The overall objective of the youth leadership thematic study is to better understand to what extent, and in what ways, being involved in Our Bright Future projects has empowered young people and equipped them to be active environmental citizens, and should they choose, environmental leaders.

The thematic study will include a literature review, the selection of a small number of case study projects, focus groups and interviews with young people and interviews with project staff.  CEP are developing all aspects of the study and will design and facilitate the focus groups and telephone interviews

In light of the current COVID-19 situation, some elements of the project will be disrupted.  We are taking this into consideration and are currently in conversation with Our Bright Future project managers to decide on the best approach moving forward.  Of course, our main priority is keeping staff, Our Bright Future teams and young people safe and healthy.

For more information about the project please contact Owen White (technical director) or Rebecca Jones (consultant).

Our Bright Future Programme mid-term evaluation report published

Our Bright Future Programme mid-term evaluation report published

CEP, with partners ERS, are undertaking the evaluation+ of the Our Bright Future Programme, which aims to empower young people to lead progressive change in their communities and local environment, through a portfolio of 31 projects across the UK, each with a duration of three to five years++.

As part of this evaluation the mid-term report has now been published.  The report presents and evaluates evidence on what has been achieved since the beginning of the programme while promoting learning and supporting the ongoing delivery of the programme.  The report is structured around four programme themes: outcomes for young people; outcomes for the environment and communities; outcomes for policy and practice; and, outcomes of the youth led and partnership approach.

Selected key findings include:

• The programme has directly engaged 85,788 young people, which already far exceeds the programme’s overall target of 60,000 young people participating in Our Bright Future activities

• Young people have gained a range of knowledge and new skills both specific to environmental topics, and more general soft and transferable skills

• Projects have improved participants’ self-confidence, wellbeing and mental health

• The Our Bright Future programme is supporting a wide range of terrestrial and marine habitats, through a variety of conservation tasks

• A survey of 450 young people involved in the programme found that projects have increased participants’ awareness of environmental issues and improved their attitudes towards spending time in the natural environment

Owen White is CEP’s lead for this project, please contact him for more information.

+The evaluation aims to:

• Test whether the Our Bright Future Programme has achieved its long term ambitions

• Provide better evidence on how young people can improve their local environment

• Test and evidence whether a partnership way of working that invests in human, social and natural capital, is an effective means by which to deliver greater impact

• Identify good practice and ongoing improvements

++The Programme is supported by £33 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund, and is managed by a consortium of eight organisations led by The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.