Education Minister becomes 1,000th School Climate Ambassador
By: Communications
The East’s Climate Ambassadors are celebrating as a Minister has joined their ranks as the UK’s 1,000th volunteer to step into this role.
The UK Minister for Early Years, Stephen Morgan MP, who leads on sustainability at the Department for Education, has become the UK’s 1,000th Climate Ambassador.
Climate Ambassadors are experts who volunteer their time to help schools create Climate Action Plans. The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia leads the Climate Ambassadors Programme for the East of England.
Mr Morgan said: “The Climate Ambassadors programme is a vital part of our strategy to empower schools and educators in tackling the climate crisis, and I’m proud to be joining over 1,000 volunteers to support schools in developing and delivering their climate action plans.
“Nurseries, schools and colleges are beginning their planning for the next academic year.
“Now is the perfect time to sign up to become a Climate Ambassador and help your local school plan for a sustainable future.”
Stephanie Gilliver, Head of Responsible Investing at Virgin Money, is one of more than 100 Climate Ambassadors here in the East of England, supported by the UEA.
She said: “I work full time, have two children and a house that doesn’t clean itself.
“Why would I want to add to my spinning plates by volunteering?
“Anyone that spares their precious free time volunteering will know the answer to that question.
“It is enriching and rewarding, it teaches you stuff and provides a different perspective, and it has a positive impact in lots of different ways.
“For me I wanted to help with local impact in responding to the climate emergency. When I heard about the Climate Ambassadors programme my hand shot up, I am in.”
Kit Marie Rackley, Climate Ambassador Manager at UEA, said: “We help schools start their climate action plans by supporting them, training school staff, or helping with activities for pupils.”
The Climate Ambassador team from UEA hosted a three-day event at Norwich Science Festival, with support from Colchester Zoo, Anglian Water, Scottish & Southern Energy, and other national initiatives supporting schools locally, including the National Nature Parks Sustainability Support for Education, and Let’s Go Zero.
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