Wildlife presenter Megan McCubbin hailed the growing influence of young people in the climate movement and called for more youngsters to get involved in local projects.
McCubbin, who presents BBC’s Springwatch, said the conservation and environment sectors needed even greater youth and diversity amidst the growing impact of climate change, as she praised the work of a number of National Lottery-funded projects across the UK.
Figures released today show that more than £3 Billion of National Lottery good causes funding has been invested over the last decade to projects across the UK which specifically support and develop children and young people.
And with the issues of climate and environment only set to become more important in the future, McCubbin has called for young people to put themselves at the heart.
“I am a big advocate for young voices and getting those voices heard within the climate and biodiversity movement,” said McCubbin.
“We need young people in conservation. Young people getting involved now can see things a lot of adults don’t see and can help make a tangible difference and empower people.
“We need a diverse range of young voices in the environmental movement, as people are listening to young people more than they ever have before.”
The National Lottery has funded a number of projects that has enabled young people across the country engage with their local habitat in ways previously out of reach to them.
Over the past 10 years, this huge investment, which has had a positive life-changing impact on children and young people up and down the country, has supported over 58,000 projects which has helped them learn new skills, develop their communities as well giving them the tools to enhance their lives and the lives of others.
Thanks to National Lottery players, the funding is providing greater opportunities in life for many children and young people across the environment, arts, education, community, heritage and sport – with a big proportion of the money helping to connect young people with their environment and teaching them how to protect it.
The environment is an issue close to the hearts of young people. Many of the volunteers in our communities who seek to drive change and educate people about how to look after our environment are the younger generation.
McCubbin highlighted the work of Seagrass Ocean Rescue in North Wales, where young people have been involved in restoring seagrass to the North Wales seabed and the 28-year-old encouraged everyone to get involved in a project local to them.
“We often forget that as humans we are part of nature, we are an intrinsic part of that system,” she added.
“It’s important that when we go out into the environment, we are connecting with it; we aren’t just looking at our phones, we actually stop and take a few breaths and tune into what is going on around us.
“It couldn’t be more important, with increasing modern pressures – especially young people and the pressures that they have to deal with like social media, to spend more time outside and reconnect to who we are and where we came from.
“Getting that hands on experience, you become more aware and more responsible for the habitat in terms of its protection. We immediately feel more empowered to protect it.
“I am a massive fan of young people getting involved and getting practical experience, as it can be hard just learning in school.
“Having projects funded by The National Lottery allows young people to get involved in opportunities that they otherwise might never have come across.”
And while McCubbin extolled the health-based virtues of getting out into nature, she also emphasised the power young people have to take control of what the climate movement will look like, while also playing their part in conserving their local area.
“Young people need to get involved in whatever projects they are passionate about because what the environment looks like today will be very different in 10- and 20-years’ time,” said McCubbin.
“Don’t just sit around and listen to the horrible headlines and be scared by it, let’s be active and do something about it; we need all hands on deck.”
National Lottery players have contributed over £3 billion to projects that support children and young people in the last 10 years within the arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport, and voluntary projects across the UK; see the difference it’s making near you at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
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