‘I’ve suffered from anxiety and being in such a supportive environment where I am making a positive change has really helped me grow and learn.’
– Jade an apprentice from the Green Futures project
Evaluation of the Programme
The Wildlife Trusts has engaged Economic Research Services (ERS) and Collingwood Environmental Planning (CEP) to undertake an evaluation of the programme. The evaluation aims to identify, analyse and assess the collective impact of the 31 projects; the added value of the programme; whether it has achieved its long term ambitions and finally, to gather evidence of impacts, good practice and lessons learned. As part of the evaluation contract, a Baseline Report was produced in July 2017; the Mid Term Report and Executive Summary were produced in July 2019 and a final report is expected at the end of 2021.
Evaluation Mid-Term Report 
The purpose of the mid-term evaluation stage is to report on what has been achieved since the beginning of the programme and identify key lessons so far to drive improved performance. This report is intended to promote learning and to support the future delivery of the programme, as well as allowing the programme to share findings with others. It is hoped that the collective evidence base can inform similar programmes in the future and provide better evidence on how young people can improve their local environment, which can be used to inform wider policy and practice.
Key findings:
  • The programme has directly engaged 85,788 young people (70.3% engaging for up to one day; 19.2% engaging for up to three months; and 10.5% engaging for more than three months). This 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. Evidence suggests that some young people have also improved their attitude and motivation to learn, and that this has resulted from being outdoors and being in a non-classroom environment
  • 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. The number of spaces improved has far exceeded the programme’s original target. Activities are positively benefiting many users of different spaces, particularly schools and colleges
  • Qualitative evidence and a survey of 450 participants across the programme demonstrated that the projects have increased participants’ awareness of environmental issues and improved their attitudes towards spending time in the natural environment
  • Our Bright Future programme and projects are making positive steps towards influencing policy and practice . Key achievements at the mid-term stage include:
    • A parliamentary event, co designed by young people, attended by 50 MPs
    • The collaborative creation of young people’s ‘Policy Asks’:
      1. More time spent learning in and about the natural environment
      2. Support to get environmental jobs
      3. Create space for young people to be heard and play an active role in society
Reports for download
Good Practice Guides 
‘I love being able to be outside, explore the beautiful Yorkshire countryside and make a positive impact upon it’
– Lorna from the Tomorrow’s Natural Leaders project

Environment

We are creating significant change in the quality of our urban and rural environment. Local spaces are being transformed to provide vital havens for wildlife as well as vital services that help protect communities from climate change. We are improving local infrastructure and helping nature’s recovery.

People

We are empowering young people to make a positive contribution to their communities through shaping and delivering their own projects which improve the areas around them. We are investing in opportunities for them to gain skills, experience and employment to develop themselves as environmental leaders.

Communities

We are inspiring people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to come together and contribute to a wide range of activities with positive and long lasting impact. Successful local community enterprises are being established up and down the UK and local people are gaining a wealth of benefits from improved local places.

Economy

Using our best practice programme model, we are demonstrating the opportunities and benefits presented by a resource efficient and sustainable ‘green’ economy. In doing so, we aim to change how we invest in our society and make the green economy the favoured employment and education route for young people.