An exciting opportunity for young people to learn new skills, connect with nature and make a difference.

Are you aged 10 - 14 years old?

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors, such as at a local park?

Would you like to work with others to improve things in your local area?

Then this is the project for you!

Groundwork are running a 4 month project, where you will work alongside other young people and Friends of Parks groups, to improve South Tyneside's parks for local people. The project starts online, and will include in-person activities in South Tyneside's parks and green spaces later in the year if it is safe.

Together with others, and supported by experienced staff, you will decide what changes you want to make for your community. You might want to help more people enjoy the benefits of time in nature at their local park, you might want to take action to address climate change using our green spaces, or you might want to bring the whole community together to reconnect with each other - it's entirely up to you!

This is a volunteering project. You'll need to attend a few online or in-person sessions (details below), make some visits to your local park independently or with others if safe, and contribute to planning and research between sessions. In return, you'll gain new skills and be able to access training for the project, have access to funds to make your ideas into reality, and become part of a network of peers who can work together to achieve real benefit.

Session details:

The first few sessions will be held online. If you do not have access to a device or internet connection where you can attend online sessions, we can support you with this. You should be able to come to most of these sessions (at weekends or during school holidays):

Friday 19th Feb, 11:00 - 12:00

Saturday 27th Feb, 11:00 - 12:30

Saturday 20th Mar, times tbc

Monday 12th Apr, times tbc

Fri 4th Jun, times tbc

Registration

Click "Apply now" to register on this programme. Once you have registered, you'll be sent a zoom linkand joining instructions via email.

The programme is only open to young people who are aged 10-14 at the start of the project. You must live in South Tyneside.

Places are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

You must have the consent of a parent or guardian aged 18 or over in order to participate in this project.

For more information, contact tom.mower@groundwork.org.uk.

This project is funded as part of the #IWILL youth social action project. Funds were distributed by Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.

The project is run by West Boldon Lodge, a partnership between Groundwork South and North Tyneside and National Grid.