Leeds children to help make schools fit for the future

A pioneering project that uses Leeds children’s voices to tackle community climate adaptation will be unveiled at a celebration event at the University of Leeds on 11 September. 

The project, Playgrounds of Possibility: Youth-Led Visions of Transformational Adaptation, brings together educators, climate practitioners and community partners to explore how children can play a meaningful role in taking action to prepare and protect their activities from extreme weather. 

Schools have been particularly badly affected by repeated heatwaves this year, with temperatures in classrooms ranging from 25C to 38C and punishing outdoor temperatures exacerbated by unshaded heat-absorbing tarmac and rubber matting. Temperatures of up to 53C were recorded at one London playground. 

Story-based toolkit for schools

As part of the celebration event, pupils from Grimes Dyke Primary School in Leeds will reflect on their central role in creating a story-based toolkit for schools that addresses the challenges posed by extreme weather and will give a preview of what will be included. They also contributed to a catalogue of climate-resilient playground interventions and designed one for their own school. 

Susanne Lorenz, Project Lead for the University of Leeds and a Commissioner for Leeds Climate Commission, said: 

“Children are rarely directly involved in climate adaptation planning, despite being among those most affected by long-term climate impacts. 

“By empowering children to co-design climate-resilient playgrounds, this project moves beyond adapting infrastructure alone and instead transforms the way adaptation decisions are made and who is empowered to making them. 

“It shows that young people’s creativity, experiences and aspirations is central to creating more resilient, inclusive and future-ready communities.” 

The project used creative and participatory approaches with pupils to tackle the subject, including getting children to survey their playground and design their own ‘dream playgrounds’ using Lego and other materials, as well as writing to local MP Richard Burgon to tell him their ideas.  

Letting children lead

 Steve Scott-Bottoms, co-founder of social enterprise Vesper Hill, which contributed to the design and delivery of the Grimes Dyke workshops and story-based toolkit, said: 

“Vesper Hill’s mission is to tell better stories about resilience and sustainability. We’ve made an audio drama for Playgrounds of Possibility called Sunny Side Up that uses the kids’ own voices to tell the story.  

“It’s an extension of an approach we used for a previous project with Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission called Pam’s Story, for which we created downloadable audio stories. It’s proved a popular method for engaging groups with the need for climate adaptation.” 

 Research Director of Vesper Hill Milo Harries, who led the school workshops, said: 

“To safeguard good play in a changing climate we need to understand what it means to play well now, here, in the places children love and make their own. That’s why the project is rooted in listening, recognising that our student colleagues are in a position of genuine expertise.  

“Put simply, when it comes to playing well in their places, they know and we don’t – and it’s their leadership that has helped us think together about how to adapt.” 

Supporting Leeds’ resilient city ambition

 Playgrounds of Possibility was organised through Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission and delivered by Leeds Climate Commissioners in partnership with Vesper Hill and funded by the Maximising Adaptation to Climate Change Hub.   

Cllr Katie Dye, co-Chair of the Leeds Climate Commission, who also leads the Commission’s Climate Action in Leeds Schools group, said: 

“This is exciting news for Leeds. It aligns well with the Leeds Ambitions, our shared plan to make Leeds the best city for all who live, work and study here. It is particularly relevant for the Resilient, Healthy and Thriving strands of this work. I look forward to building on the success of this project by involving other schools across the city.”  

Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Children and Families and Leeds Play Champion, said: “Offering children and young people safe spaces to play is a core component of the city-wide ambition to make Leeds a child friendly city.  

 “A key part of this work is taking time to listen to feedback and experiences of children, and we’re pleased to see the work being undertaken alongside local children to ensure that their ability to play is protected into the future.” 

The Leeds Climate Commission schools group was formed to support schools with climate action including work on the curriculum, decarbonisation, adaptation and resilience, and improving biodiversity.  It is currently auditing Leeds schools to understand how many already have climate plans and sustainability leads and to offer free support to those that need help to get started.