Support for schools

Several local organisations are willing to support schools in trying to become greener. 

Groundwork East – Free Climate Clubs

Groundwork East received grant funding from the Essex Climate Action Challenge Fund to offer 9 primary schools and 1 home school cohort, free ‘climate crew clubs’, a five week course covering a range of environmental topics. Although the first cohort of schools may be booked up you can still find out more and register your interest on their website in the climate clubs in case they get further funding to run more.

Eco Education – Schools Eco Forum

Eco Education is an informal forum for schools across Essex (and some beyond) to share information about resources, funding and support for environmental activities and projects. Find their forum on Facebook here.

The Ink Bin

The Ink Bin are an organisation specialising in providing recycling solutions for ink cartridges. They could provide a solution to recycle your ink cartridges, in return for a small income for your school. They also produce a weekly ‘Eco Kids’ newsletter with information on what The Ink Bin are up to, as well as environmental facts and ideas for eco activities to do at home and school.

The Ink Bin

Eco Colchester

Eco Colchester are a community group, aiming to help residents become more environmentally friendly. Their website is a great hub of resources on environmental topics. One of the action areas on their website is schools, and this provides further resources and links to organisations that can provide support to schools to reduce their environmental impact.

Eco Colchester 

Together we Grow CIC

Together we Grow are a community interest company (CIC), specialising in providing outdoor growing sessions and engagement with nature to benefit wellbeing. They are based at ‘The Big Garden’ in Highwoods Country Park, where residents can volunteer to grow fruit and vegetables. They also help several schools in Colchester with outdoor learning and education sessions.

Together we Grow 

Essex Wildlife Trust

Essex Wildlife Trust are a charity involved in the conservation of wildlife across Essex, and in the nature reserves that they manage. Along with a wide variety of resources on their website that provide ideas of actions to benefit wildlife, they also provide the opportunity to do outdoor learning sessions at their nature reserves for a wide range of ages.

Essex Wildlife Trust 

Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership

This partnership aims to increase the use of the six branch lines in Essex & South Suffolk. They provide a rail safety programme for schools for schools to learn more about rail safety, including a session riding on a train.

Essex & South Suffolk Commuity Rail Partnership