Blue Influencers
Young people taking action to improve Somerset’s environment
What is The Blue Influencers Scheme?
The Blue Influencers Scheme is a groundbreaking project from UK outdoor education charity The Ernest Cook Trust, with the ambition to support young people from underserved communities and those living in deprived coastal, estuary and riverside locations, by empowering them to tackle environmental and climate issues.
The £2.25 million Scheme is being match-funded by The Ernest Cook Trust and the #iwill Fund and will run for three years. Its ambition is to engage more than 4,000 young people as ‘Blue Influencers’, as well as over 15,000 community members across England.
The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to £66 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities. The Ernest Cook Trust is acting as a match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund.
In Somerset, we’re lucky to have 53 miles of coastline with a rich variety of habitats and wildlife. Unfortunately, it often doesn’t get the attention it deserves, but by encouraging young people and schools to engage with our brilliant coast, we aim to help them stand up for this crucial natural asset.Wilder Lives Manager, Somerset Wildlife Trust
More Information About The Blue Influencers Scheme
Who is it for?
Somerset Wildlife Trust was among 22 charities to successfully bid for funding from the Blue Influencers Scheme and is being awarded £20,000 a year for three years.
The grant will help pay for the employment of a Blue Mentor whose role is to recruit young people to become ‘Blue Influencers’. These young people, aged 10 to 14, with the support of their Blue Mentor, will create and run social action schemes to improve the environment of their schools, neighbourhoods and communities.
Blue Influencers Scheme Grants
Additional funds up to £5,000 will also be available for specific projects, and it will be the Youth Advisory Board members who approve these awards.
Somerset Wildlife Trust's Blue Mentor
We are delighted to welcome Thibaud Sulzer as our Blue Mentor. Thibaud is deeply passionate about wildlife and the environment and is excited about this opportunity to support young people in Somerset.
More information and contact details
For more information about The Ernest Cook Trust’s Blue Influencers Scheme visit Influencers Schemes – The Ernest Cook Trust
For information about Blue Influencers Scheme in Somerset email our Blue Mentor Thibaud: thibaud.sulzer@somersetwildlife.org
