The National Literacy Trust has teamed up with Siemens to help local children improve their literacy skills whilst also learning about the importance of environmental advocacy and sustainability.

Thanks to funding support from Siemens, the National Literacy Trust has been able to offer bespoke training to over 35 community volunteers in Birmingham, enabling them to become Eco Literacy Champions. This training allows them to promote awareness of environmental issues and sustainability to children and families, whilst also helping to raise their literacy levels through specialised activities and events. This forms part of the wider Literacy Champions Programme from the National Literacy Trust, which enables specially trained volunteers to reach out to their communities and encourage them to engage with literacy.

Simone Schehtman is the Founder and Director of Teamworks Karting, an eco-friendly go-karting track in Birmingham city centre, and has been a National Literacy Trust Eco Literacy Champion for over 6 months. For her, a key aspect of the programme is promoting an understanding of big issues on a relatable, community level and allowing young people to explore their creativity through literacy and the theme of environmentalism.

“Based on the extensive charity work I have done with local children and young people, I believe it’s so important to combine literacy education with environmental education. Since becoming an Eco Literacy Champion I have overseen the installation of an eco-lending library corner at Teamworks Karting, and I was able to invite young people supported by social workers and living in foster to come and design, build, paint and fill it with me. It was fantastic to tap into their creativity and help them cultivate an interest in reading and learning about environmental issues.

“Since its installation, I have observed that the children visiting the track and using the eco-library are connecting more deeply with what is around them in their immediate environment while reading. This is important for understanding because looking at environmental issues on a global scale could be lost on children living in a mostly urban setting.

“Working as a National Literacy Trust Eco Literacy Champion fits in with the ethos of Teamworks Karting. We are a sustainable company using non-polluting electric go-karts and we try to engage our visitors with environmental issues as much as we can.

“I was first introduced to the Eco Literacy Champion programme whilst hosting the Department for Education’s Holiday Activity and Food (Haf) Scheme at the track, providing healthy food and enriching activities for young people during the school holidays. As well as literacy-facing activities, we invite animal and nature experts to run workshops with the children to help these mostly inner-city kids experience wildlife and feel connected to the environment.”

This is just one example of the positive impact Eco Literacy Champions are having in Birmingham. Simone is so grateful that the funding from Siemens enabled her to undergo the training programme.

“I am a big supporter of what Siemens are doing as part of this project. It is so important that corporations realise their community obligations, and without their generous financial support my work at the track would not be possible. It’s fantastic to see a leading technology company taking proactive steps to instil a sense of eco-responsibility in today’s young generation.”

Partnering with the National Literacy Trust on the Eco Literacy Champions Programme is just one way that Siemens is driving the sustainability charge. The company has pledged to turn all its operations carbon neutral by 2030.

Elsewhere in Birmingham, Eco Literacy Champions have been busy working on literacy and eco engagement in the community. Every month, a nature photography competition is held on Instagram and local residents can submit entries that they have taken in and around Birmingham. Partnering with another National Literacy Trust campaign, Take 10, encouraging people to take ten minutes a day to read for positive mental health, the Literacy Champions are hosting a nature-themed Take 10 event for Birmingham families. Furthermore, several book giftings will be taking place to encourage the reading and reusing of books.

Laura Michelangeli, Project Officer at the National Literacy Trust, comments:

“I am thrilled to be part of the Eco Literacy Champions initiative. Inspirational local volunteers like Simone are having such a positive impact on the young people of Birmingham by working tirelessly to engage them with environmental issues through literacy events and initiatives.

“They are equipping the next generation with key literacy skills key and an understanding of prominent environmental issues affecting society. I can’t wait to see where this programme takes us and I thank Siemens for their generous support in making this work possible.”

Olivia Whitlam, Head of Sustainability at Siemens says:

“It is our firm belief that companies play a pioneering role in the fight against climate change. We are delighted to offer our support to the Eco Literacy Champions Programme to help inspire the next generation to think about sustainability and live eco-friendly lives.

“Our commitment to 1.5 degree Science Based Target will help humanity and the environment on a global scale, but we understand that education and understanding at the community level is essential in changing the world. We are so proud that our investment is helping children and families across England develop essential literacy skills and an understanding of the environmental challenges we face today.”