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Social Action

Social Action & Social Media Session With WECIL

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On Wednesday the 9th of November, WECIL came to Knowle West Media Centre for the first of two sessions focusing on Social Action and Social Media. The aim of the first session was to introduce the cohort to the space and dive into the world of Social Action; exploring the group’s passions and concerns about their local area and society while learning about previous strategies used to promote positive change. Through interactive discussions and activities, the group narrowed down their focus and decided on a topic that they would each like to research and plan a way to start turning their social concerns into actions.

On the 23rd of November, WECIL returned to KWMC to continue with the second part of their workshop. This time they were looking at how they could use social media to promote the social action plans they wanted to communicate. The group learned new information regarding social media platforms and audiences whilst picking up skills such as designing social assets on Canva.

From this point, their social media posts were starting to form. With text and assets at the ready, the group was able to post what they had created readying them for creating content and posting outside of the workshop.

We had a blast running this workshop for WECIL and we hope with all they have gained, they can spread those all-important messages far and wide!

Why young people want to say ‘Climate Emergency’ and not ‘Climate Change’.

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During a recent after-school session with young people, the issue of ‘Climate Change’ came up once again and this prompted a larger conversation: is that the best way to describe it?

We recognise that at Jump Studios we have a responsibility to sensibly facilitate the conversations between young people around social action.

Topics like racism and sustainability often, and understandably, come up in conversations with the young people that come to our sessions. It’s our job to ensure that the conversation takes place without bias and political influence from our side.

We recently held a session where a young person challenged the term ‘Climate Change’ and prompted us questioning whether this is something which now transcends politics.

What you need to know about the Climate Emergency:

  • Climate change is real and human activities are the main cause.
  • The concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere is directly linked to the average global temperature on Earth.
  • The concentration has been rising steadily, and mean global temperatures along with it, since the time of the Industrial Revolution.
  • The most abundant greenhouse gas, accounting for about two-thirds of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2), is largely the product of burning fossil fuels.
  • Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is responsible for more than 25 per cent of the warming we are experiencing today. It is a powerful pollutant with a global warming potential over 80 times greater than CO2 during the 20 years after it is released into the atmosphere.

Source: UNEP

What is the problem with saying ‘Climate Change’?

What we gathered from the discussion is that young people undoubtedly appreciate the importance of the environment and realise the negative impact humans are having on it.

They also deemed that climate ‘change’ was too natural a term and that we could do more to address the situation. One young person summarised the issue very well:

“Change is neutral. Emergency is now”

2019 was the second hottest year on record (source: WMO) and suggesting that it is simply ‘different’ is the equivalent of suggesting a pan of boiling water ‘isn’t cold’. Whilst true, it is certainly misleading.

We have an opportunity at Jump Studios to help influence social action through the next generation and this is not a question of what we think is right, rather what the young people think. We don’t need to give lectures on these issues because, even amongst young people aged 10 to 14, they already know the challenge we face.

We are not looking to change the discourse on the topic but rather give it a more suitable terminology.

Source: Getty Images from BBC News.

Why ‘Climate Emergency’?

The reason is simply that it is just that, an emergency.

If the next generation can be raised beginning the conversation with ‘Climate Emergency’ as opposed to just ‘Change’ then the next generation can be using the terminology that they deem suitable.

What can you do?

If you, or somebody you know, work with young people, then consider asking them what they think is a more fitting term: ‘Climate Change’ or ‘Climate Emergency’.

We’ve found with the young people that attend our sessions that these issues are well-established in their discourse and that they want to talk about it.

It’s up to us to give them the best opportunity to grow up and help positively change the society we live in.

If you have any questions, then feel free to email me at scott@kwmc.org.uk to discuss why we have made this decision or how we are implementing it.

Keep up to date with our journey by following Jump Studios on Instagram and Twitter.

Our February 2021 Half-Term: Young People Can Make (Virtually)!

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This half-term, we hosted a series of activities for Young People to get them engaging creatively and engaging with social issues. Over the course of three days, the 10-16 year olds discussed how they want to see their communities change, they learnt design skills, created socially active prototypes and even recorded their own podcast.

The poster for the half-term.

What did they get up to?

Just in case you weren’t aware, it’s not particularly easy right now to host our usual half-term programmes in person. So, we’ve adapted to holding the sessions over Microsoft Teams.

At the start of the week, each young person was sent a pack to try and keep them away from their screens for as long as possible – considering how many hours per day of screen-time they are having right now.

A peak at what was in some of the packs we sent out to the young people.

The first day was all about opening up the discussions for change.

What changes do the young people want to see in their communities?

Imagine the communities you’re in right now. What changes would you like to see?

“BE POSITIVE not negative” and “UP THE ANTI” stood out as some really positive messaging from the discussions the young people had on the changes they want to see in their communities.

There was strong dialogue around issues in the environment and different forms of discrimination, which really shows just how encouraging the next generation is.

Our second group really focused on environmental issues as their main piece of conversation, which is no surprise considering how big a topic it is today.

Whilst they talked about the need for renewable energy, it was also nice to hear a desire for new places where young people can socialise with one another.

Their Prototypes

With the discussions ongoing, the young people began creating their prototypes that could make a difference.

Here are just a short selection of the prototypes we saw…

A renewable, fit-bit style watch prototype that aims to keep you active.
A 3D Model of a Tea Bag aiming to make them more renewable.
A prototype of a petrol station with no petrol, only renewable electric energy.

But how did they find it?

This was only a sneak-peak of everything the young people got up to during half-term, but how did they find it?

It was really great to see just how much they enjoyed it.

It’s never going to be an ideal situation when they have to sit in their own rooms, rather than be in a creative and engaging environment, but to hear that they are still inspired and having fun is a fantastic sign.