My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered UK entity and has a London-based address.
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions
1
First Name
Last Name
Pronouns
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Initiative Title
Action Earth London
Lead Organization Name
Volunteering Matters
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
1962
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/volunteeringmatters/ https://www.instagram.com/volunteering_uk/
Initiative Stage
Pilot-Stage (The first activities have happened, and you have proof of concept)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
Action Earth: Sport for Climate Action supports young Londoners, including those in alternative education, in Hounslow, Hackney & Islington to be active and exercise while co‑designing small projects that add climate‑resilient measures to community or school spaces including sport and play areas, such as shade, hydration points and better drainage, so participation stays safe in heat, rain or poor air.
Challenge Focus: What topic does your initiative most directly relate to?
Enabling climate-resilient participation
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
London’s children and young people already feel climate impacts at school and in community sport; heatwaves, heavy rain and poor air quality disrupt activity and make safe sessions harder. Those who will benefit most are young people in underserved and climate‑vulnerable communities; especially learners in alternative education where anxiety, prior exclusions, caring roles or health needs can make mainstream clubs feel out of reach while travel costs and stigma add to the problem. There are barriers to safe, accessible and familiar physical activity near home or school; trusted adults, predictable routines and local spaces make participation possible. We are close to this community: over several years we have worked with marginalised young people in Hounslow, Hackney and Islington and their lived experience shapes our design choices. Young people want to act yet lack small, fast resources and clear guidance to adapt spaces and programmes. In line with the Sports for Climate Action Challenge we will use sport to build climate awareness and enable climate‑resilient participation in London. This matters to us because our mission is youth social action; we see how simple adaptations can unlock movement, confidence and belonging. We hope it embeds sustainable routines, habits, behaviours support climate activism within the school settings, the participants & their communities.
Your approach: How are you addressing the problem outlined above? How are you using the power of sport and physical activity to build awareness, shift behavior, and enable sustainable participation for all in response to the climate crisis? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
We use physical activity as the enabler, the hook and the classroom, helping young people understand climate risk, shift everyday habits and put in place simple measures that keep participation safe in heat, heavy rain or poor air. Our London adaptation of Action Earth is informed by our long‑running delivery of Action Earth in Scotland and has four parts that work together to help participants achieve their goals. 1) Micro‑grants for climate‑smart sport: 50 micro‑grants of up to £500 to schools, youth clubs and alternative provision sites; simple youth‑led adaptations such as shade planting, hydration points, green screening and rain‑garden planters keep activity going in varied weather. 2) Young Climate Play Leaders: short training for 13–18s in climate literacy through sport, heat‑smart coaching and low‑carbon events; leaders co‑design improvements, run engagement games and host Action Days with families and neighbours. 3) Session Toolkit: practical guidance to adapt sessions including high‑heat or high‑pollution days; greener kit choices; low‑waste tournaments; greener travel habits. 4) Community action with employer volunteers: seasonal Action Days add hands and pace for small builds or planting; this stretches cash and grows local ownership. If selected as a finalist we will use the capacity‑building phase to refine the model and, if offered, up to £10,000 to prototype in three boroughs with rapid installs and a simple shared measurement set‑up so results are comparable. The idea grew from our small‑grants work; the ‘aha’ moment was seeing how a tiny grant e.g. one well‑run Action Day can turn a bare corner of a playground into a cooler, welcoming place to move, talk and learn together while giving young people a positive dose of exercise and teamwork.
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
Young people are decision makers & designers already informing this model . We place them at the heart of each site and build around their community. Co design from the start: each site runs a short sprint with learners, staff, a coach and local stakeholders to choose the activity based climate action that matters most locally. We prioritise alternative education where small changes unlock participation. Through Action Earth, young people plant shade trees, install hydration points and create rain garden planters; hands on exercise through digging, carrying, watering and team tasks builds confidence. Youth leadership and peer support: Young Climate Play Leaders plan sessions, set roles, welcome families and neighbours and run playful climate games on Action Days. Many volunteer after taking part, offering peer support in their own school or college so participation feels safe and familiar. Community roles and governance: parents, residents and local employers help with planting, assembly and low waste set up. Clubs and schools agree plans and termly check ins so improvements last. A youth sounding board helps select micro grants and shape comms; younger participants buddy the next cohort so lived experience is passed on. Impact, storytelling and inclusion: measurement is participant led. Young people choose how to share impact, from short videos, voice notes and photo diaries to blogs, zines or written stories. We provide prompts and one to one support; ensure consent and safeguarding; allow anonymous sharing if preferred. Narratives sit alongside pulse checks, before and after photos and counts of sessions and adaptations. Sessions adapt to group needs with shorter blocks, quiet spaces and indoor and outdoor materials so more young people take part with confidence.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in raising climate awareness, shifting behaviors, or reducing environmental impact or harm? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had¡, and/or what impact do you envision having in the future?
Our initiative turns climate awareness into weekly active play through youth led co design, quick builds and playful climate games; it delivers practical site changes, measurable activity hours and shifts in knowledge, confidence and habits. Outputs in year one: 50 micro projects across Hounslow, Islington and Hackney; 100 plus children engaged across design, builds and activities; 30 youth leaders trained with three borough huddles; installations include shade and planting, hydration access, green screens and rain garden planters. Hours of activity and exercise: Each site runs a design sprint, build sessions and an Action Day; a typical participant gains 10 to 15 hours of moderate activity per cycle; shade, hydration and drainage unlock extra open play. Coaches log session length and intensity so we can report total hours per participant and per site. Outcomes: Awareness and agency rise; more conversations at home and with peers about heat, air quality and greener habits; participation is more resilient as more sessions go ahead in high heat or rain; environmental benefit grows near play spaces with added canopy and groundcover, fewer single use items and modest drops in PM at the play edge where green screening is used. Monitoring feelings and impact: We use short pre and post pulses to track mood, energy and confidence; quick enjoyment and effort ratings each session; termly check ins for belonging and safety. Evidence includes activity logs, before and after photos and counts of sessions and adaptations, plus trees or shrubs planted, square metres greened and litres of single use plastic avoided. Our Action Earth record and partnerships give a credible path to scale and depth.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Innovation: what is different about our approach We fuse physical activity, climate resilience and youth social action in one repeatable model; sport becomes a climate classroom and micro grants fund rapid, tangible site upgrades. Sport as the climate classroom Learning sits inside playful sessions and Action Days so it happens while moving; this lifts retention and participation for those who do not engage with classroom only content. Micro grants with a resilience lens Small grants and quick community builds create visible change fast; they unlock heat smart coaching, greener travel and low waste events. Alternative provision first We design for settings usually last to be included; short sessions, flexible kit and on site delivery reduce barriers. Learning by doing We test and refine with young people, coaches and neighbours in real contexts; ideas move from plan to proof then into a simple playbook others can copy. Tackling root causes: We want this programme to offer, achieve, celebrate & normalise activity & participation. Through increased youth agency around making & supporting greener choices then linking their activities & their impact to the boarder issues around climate action experience from the projects can be used elsewhere. Sustainability & pathways: Participants can progress into the #IWLL youth movement and grassroots initiatives in their communities; join local crews, co host Action Days, pitch micro projects and mentor peers. Alumni routes include volunteering with partners, supporting school eco teams or leading neighbourhood mini builds; this keeps assets cared for and grows a youth led norm for active, lower impact choices. We'll also signpost to local clubs, youth councils and climate action groups so momentum continues between cycles.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
Lead organisation: Volunteering Matters Programme lead and accountable body; hires and supports the project team; manages volunteers; holds the risk register; leads safeguarding and data protection; oversees budget, procurement and logistics; coordinates borough delivery; runs measurement and reporting; links participants to IWLL pathways. Schools and Alternative Provision in Hackney, Hounslow and Islington Identify cohorts and staff champions; host co design, builds and Action Days; provide participants and duty of care supervision; secure permissions and consents; timetable space and access; maintain installed adaptations; share simple output data. Volunteering Matters and schools will work to shared safeguarding and accessibility best practice with reasonable adjustments, quiet spaces and inclusive kit planned together. Community stakeholders Councils provide permissions and safety guidance, align work with borough climate and sport priorities, offer in kind materials and disposal support, help with long term caretaking. Grassroots groups and local clubs recruit local volunteers, co host Action Days, mentor youth leaders, steward assets and support low waste events. Project delivery team led by Volunteering Matters Climate play coaches and build leads plan and deliver sessions, adapt for inclusion, manage on site safety, log activity hours and simple pre and post pulses, train and support Youth Climate Play Leaders. A volunteer manager recruits, briefs and schedules volunteers across boroughs. Volunteering Matters core teams in Safeguarding, Impact, Finance and Comms provide wrap around support to the project team. Youth Climate Play Leaders Co design sessions, welcome families and neighbours, lead games, capture pulse checks, buddy younger participants, signpost peers into IWLL and community initiatives. Governance and quality A termly borough steering group with a Volunteering Matters programme lead, a school or AP lead, a council officer, a grassroots representative and a youth representative reviews safeguarding and accessibility, approves micro grants, tracks risks and progress.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your organization up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
We will deliver a lean, scalable programme kept affordable through micro grants, volunteer power and a shared playbook, with evidence and partnerships to sustain growth. Viability We build on a proven Action Earth chassis with hundreds of community projects; we have already scaled it nationally in Scotland with schools and volunteers, proving we can grow delivery at pace and quality. Micro grants and volunteer mobilisation keep unit costs low; one London Programme Manager provides continuity, quality assurance and partner care. In kind match through volunteer time and employer teams is built into our London plan. Financial model, year one Our financial modelling aligns with current delivery and with scoping and projections for pilot proposals; if required we will secure match funding or in kind support including from corporate partners and major donors. Scalability Delivery across Hackney, Hounslow and Islington will anchor replication across London. A simple playbook and kit enable replication by borough cluster; we scale by adding micro grant tranches and practitioner huddles with a modest rise in staff time. We will pursue borough co funding, small trusts and corporate partners that value youth led climate action through sport, and align with the Challenge impact measurement resource to evidence scale, depth and speed.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/ to grow.
Our timeline mirrors the Challenge model of learning by doing, youth co design and partnership with landowners and councils; we move from peer review into finalist support, then borough pilots and full delivery; we use shared measurement and a practical playbook to scale what works. Application and set up Application submitted; complete peer review and join feedback roundtables; stand up light governance; engage heads and site leads in schools and alternative provision; open a borough partner register for councils, grassroots groups and local clubs; begin volunteer outreach and early procurement. Implementation and recruitment Confirm and onboard a London Programme Manager and a volunteer manager; recruit climate play coaches and build leads; train the team in safeguarding, inclusion, climate literacy and measurement; agree shared accessibility and care routines with host sites. March to April 2026: finalist phase Join the capacity building programme; run two quick pilots in selected boroughs; hold co design labs in eight to ten sites in each borough; begin early installs where permissions are in place; set up shared measurement using quick pulse checks for mood and effort, activity hour logs and photo evidence; convene learning sessions with other Challenge participant organisations to swap tools and align practice. May to August 2026: prepare to scale Refine the toolkit and playbook; confirm the site list and micro grants; secure council permissions; order materials; schedule Action Days; brief volunteers and youth leaders; agree simple care plans with schools and community partners; align our indicators with the Challenge impact measurement resource so results are comparable. From September 2026: delivery and learning Roll out across Hackney, Hounslow and Islington; deliver fifty micro projects; host three practitioner huddles to spread what works; publish an interim learning brief; complete an end line review; set sustainability actions including youth pathways into #IWLL and links to local groups so benefits are sustained. Projects are expected to begin in September 2026 under this programme timeline.
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details (LINK).
If selected as a finalist, we can participate; a small grant would let us prototype quickly and remove access barriers. Prototype materials and small installs for two borough pilots: £4,000 Session facilitation and youth leader stipends for design sprints and Action Days: £2,000 Travel and access costs for young people in AP settings; refreshments for short sessions: £1,500 Mini‑evaluation; baseline tools, photo consent, simple outputs tracker: £1,000 Venue or equipment hire where on‑site spaces are unsuitable: £1,000 Contingency for rapid fixes during pilots: £500 This aligns with the Challenge offer of up to £10,000 support during the mid‑March to end‑April capacity‑building phase
If you selected “Other”, please specify below.
We are very interested in re-vitalising our collaboration opportunities with partners supporting young people outside of mainstream education which we did for several years facilitating the Team London Young Ambassadors programme. This allowed us to support SEND, AP, inclusion units across London to undertake youth led social action project many of which included environmental elements or focuses combined with physical activity with health & wellbeing outcomes.
