Hull’s young climate champions visit Westminster to meet with Floods Minister

Eco-conscious students from a Hull secondary school visited Westminster to share their inspirational work to combat climate change.

Members of The Boulevard Academy’s Eco Committee travelled to London to meet with Hull West and Haltemprice MP Emma Hardy, who is also the Floods Minister, at the Houses of Parliament.

The students enjoyed a tour of Westminster and spoke about the projects they have led which are now inspiring their classmates and teachers to play their part in tackling the climate crisis.

The Boulevard Academy won a competition organised by the region’s Oh Yes! Net Zero campaign, which tasked Hull and East Yorkshire schools with completing sustainable initiatives to earn points.

Students have been involved in projects ranging from litter picking and upcycling, to delivering climate assemblies to fellow pupils.

Winning Oh Yes! Net Zero’s competition recognises The Boulevard Academy’s Eco Committee as true climate changemakers.

Students from The Boulevard Academy and Oh Yes! Net Zero delegates inside St Stephen’s Hall at UK Parliament. Credit: R&R Studio

Emma Hardy MP, who is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding, said: "As a country we are on a mission to reach net zero, and Hull and East Yorkshire sits at the heart of that which means jobs and investment to our local area.

"Engaging young people is vital to ensure they are well prepared to take on the jobs of the future. I am so pleased we have initiatives like Oh Yes! Net Zero working with young people in our area and bringing together public and private sectors to collaborate and seize the opportunities which will arise in the transition to net zero.

“It was wonderful to welcome students from The Boulevard Academy to Parliament. Their passion for sustainability was clear to see, and they are already having a significant impact both at their school and our community.”

The Boulevard Academy’s Eco Committee has been involved in a range of sustainable initiatives and projects over the past year.

Students have led litter picks around their school and wider community, upcycled items to save them from landfill, and encouraged more pupils to walk or cycle to school.

The students’ travel to London was kindly provided by Hull Trains. Credit: R&R Studio

The Eco Committee has also delivered assembles to students on sustainability and has helped the school to understand and measure its carbon footprint.

The Boulevard Academy was one of three Hull schools to attend a Climate Changemakers workshop delivered by the Living with Water partnership.

Students made their own miniature sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) models and learnt about the role they play in controlling the flow of water and reducing flood risk.

While at Westminster, the group enjoyed a tour which included entering the House of Lords and learning about the workings of UK Parliament.

The students were joined by Cllr Linda Tock, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for Children’s Services, and Mary Meredith, Assistant Director for Learning and Skills at the Council.

Students met Hull West and Haltemprice MP Emma Hardy to share their sustainability work. Credit: R&R Studio

Grace Chapman, Programme Lead for Oh Yes! Net Zero’s Climate Changemakers project, said: “The trip to Westminster was an experience the students will remember for the rest of their lives.

“It provided a unique opportunity to speak to a government minister about the issues that mean so much to them, and to talk about the work they’ve been doing to address them.

“Our Climate Changemakers programme continues to make a significant impact in the region, both educating students on the impacts of climate change and inspiring them to take action.

“Research shows young people are more conscious than ever before about climate change and the impact we are having on our planet. Beyond that, they want to make a difference and spread the word that climate action is everyone’s responsibility.”

Climate Changemakers was launched by Oh Yes! Net Zero to empower young people in Hull to take climate action.

The initiative aims to engage with thousands of students through a variety of sustainability activities, all with a focus on preserving and enhancing the environment.

The Boulevard Academy won Oh Yes! Net Zero’s Changemakers Challenge competition. Credit: R&R Studio

Last year, six climate-conscious schools including The Boulevard Academy received at least £10,000 of funding to help them accurately measure and reduce their carbon footprint.

Jointly funded by Oh Yes! Net Zero Founding Partners Reckitt and Hull City Council, a number of student-led initiatives also received funding. Those projects range from rainwater harvesting and recycling to biodiversity enhancement.

Lara is a member of The Boulevard Academy’s Eco Committee, and was part of the group that travelled to Westminster.

She said: “I joined the Eco Committee because I wanted to spend my time on something that really interested me. My generation will be the people who can make a difference in the future, so it’s down to us to change the world.

“I asked Emma a question about how we bring climate change more into the national curriculum, and she recommended I write a letter to the Secretary of State.

“That’s something I’m definitely going to do, and our next project at the Eco Committee is to create a new school garden for everyone to enjoy.”

Oh Yes! Net Zero is a campaign bringing together businesses and organisations in Hull and the Humber with a shared commitment to reduce their carbon footprint and transition to net zero.

Launched in 2022, Oh Yes! Net Zero now has over 150 active members, ranging from some of the region’s biggest businesses to SMEs with only a handful of employees. In all, Oh Yes! Net Zero members employ a total of almost 60,000 people across the region.