TREAD Lightly project set to encourage West Midlands school children to create sustainable future
It aims to try out new approaches to reduce the impact on the environment.
Last updated 5th Mar 2024
School children from around the West Midlands are following in The King’s footsteps and getting involved in a new initiative that looks at new ways to create a sustainable future.
The project, TREAD Lightly (TREAD Lightly: Turn off, Reduce use, Energy efficiency, Alternative source, Do something), encourages children and young people in schools and colleges to try out new approaches to reduce their impact on the environment.
Children are getting involved through going paper-free for a week, growing vegetables to cut down on food miles, turning off appliances not being used and making use of solar energy.
Tread Lightly has been developed by the Education Group that is part of the West Midlands Lieutenancy, which encourages community projects that benefit the region as well as supporting The King and His interests.
It is hoped that schools and colleges will share their ideas and results through the project to find solutions that reduce environmental impact to lead towards a more sustainable future.
As Vince Green, CEO of Summit Learning Trust and member of the Education Group explained;
“Young people are passionate about the environment and can often come up with ingenious ideas that will make a difference to how they can help preserve resources.
"TREAD Lightly lets them use their imagination and empowers them to problem-solve solutions.
"We have set up the project so schools and colleges can share what is working and everyone can learn, see if it works for them and benefit from the activity.”
The idea has been researched with schools, children and parents who are keen to have a go and see the difference that can be made.
Cherry Chan, aged fourteen, from Lyndon School, Solihull is all for taking part and said;
“We are already recycling and doing litter picks in our local area, but are now looking what else we can do. One idea is to look at how we can reduce traffic outside the school. If we can come up with a good solution, we will talk with people who can help us make the changes happen.”
Sir John Crabtree, Lord-Lieutenant is fully behind the project and said:
“This is a terrific initiative which goes to the heart of The King’s priorities of caring for the climate and the environment.”