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
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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
GREEN PLAY CHAMPIONS + CLIMATE-RESILIENT PE
Lead Organization Name
AKC Opportunties Foundation CIC
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2025
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
https://akcopportunities.org
Initiative Stage
Idea (You have a solid concept and are hoping to get started in the future)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Environment & Sustainability
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
Green Play Champions and Climate-Resilient PE use sport to build climate awareness, leadership and wellbeing, helping pupils and schools stay active and safe in the face of climate challenges.
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?
Children and young people in the borough of Greenwich are already experiencing climate related risks that affect their health, wellbeing and access to physical activity. Almost 100,000 residents in Greenwich are considered vulnerable to extreme heat, with heatwaves expected to become more frequent and intense as the climate changes (London World citing London climate risk data). London recorded temperatures above 40°C in 2022, showing that extreme heat is now a present and growing risk rather than a future issue (Greater London Authority climate adaptation reports). The borough is also designated an Air Quality Management Area due to historic levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution, which can make outdoor activity unsafe for children on certain days (Royal Borough of Greenwich air quality assessments). Despite this, many schools lack practical guidance on how to adapt physical activity safely during heatwaves or poor air quality. PE and outdoor play are often reduced or cancelled, disproportionately affecting pupils with limited access to green space, higher health vulnerability, or additional needs. We currently deliver PE and targeted physical interventions across Greenwich schools, including recent provision at Kidbrooke Park Primary School and KPLC, where we support children with complex needs, autism and disabilities who struggle to access mainstream PE.
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?
Our approach uses sport and physical activity as a practical, everyday way for schools and young people to respond to climate pressures while building awareness, confidence and long term healthy habits. In Greenwich, extreme heat is already a growing risk, with almost 100,000 residents considered vulnerable to high temperatures and heatwaves expected to become more frequent and intense as the climate changes (London World citing London climate risk data). London recorded temperatures above 40°C in 2022, showing these impacts are already present rather than future concerns (Greater London Authority climate adaptation reports). Greenwich is also designated an Air Quality Management Area due to historic nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution, which can affect safe outdoor activity for children (Royal Borough of Greenwich air quality assessments). Green Play Champions and Climate Resilient PE address this by helping schools adapt physical activity in clear, practical ways that keep participation safe and consistent. This includes adjusting session timings, reducing intensity during extreme heat, building in regular rest and hydration breaks, using shaded or indoor spaces, and switching to lower intensity or indoor activities on poor air quality days. Pupils learn why these changes matter, how climate conditions affect their bodies, and how to make safer choices for themselves and others. Alongside delivery, the programme provides schools with resources and CPD training so staff can embed climate aware practice into everyday routines. The aim is to support long term culture change, helping schools understand how daily decisions around PE, space use and activity design can both protect wellbeing and contribute to more climate resilient participation.
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?
Our initiative is built around the belief that young people and their communities should play an active role in shaping climate-resilient solutions. The Green Play Champions model places pupils at the heart of the programme, recognising that children and young people are both directly affected by climate pressures and well placed to influence behaviour within their schools, families and local communities. The programme begins with listening and co-creation within each school context. Pupils take part in workshops and discussions that explore how climate conditions such as heat, poor air quality or lack of green space affect their daily routines, wellbeing and ability to be active. In Greenwich schools, where pupils may have limited access to green space or higher health vulnerability, these conversations help shape the focus of activities and ensure the programme reflects real lived experience. Green Play Champions are trained as youth leaders within their school communities. For example, Champions may lead a PE or lunchtime session adapted for hot weather, explaining why hydration, pacing and rest breaks are important and modelling how activities can be adjusted safely. In schools with higher SEND needs, activities are designed to be sensory aware and flexible, with Champions supporting inclusive games that allow pupils with autism, physical disabilities or anxiety to participate at their own pace. Family and community engagement is intentionally built into delivery. Schools may host climate aware activity sessions where parents and carers take part alongside pupils, or Champions may lead simple take home challenges that encourage families to reflect on staying active safely, reducing waste, or caring for shared outdoor spaces together.
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?
Green Play Champions and Climate-Resilient PE are designed to create both immediate and long term impact by embedding climate awareness into everyday physical activity rather than treating it as a standalone topic. In the short term, the programme will increase understanding of climate risks such as heat and air quality, while enabling pupils and schools to adapt behaviour in practical ways that keep physical activity safe and inclusive. Impact will be evidenced through clear before and after measures. At the start of delivery, pupils and staff will complete short baseline activities to capture existing awareness of climate risks, confidence participating in physical activity under different conditions, and feelings of leadership or agency. These same measures will be revisited at the end of the programme to demonstrate change over time. In a typical Greenwich primary school, we anticipate directly engaging between 200 and 400 pupils per term through PE lessons, Champion led activities and assemblies. A smaller cohort of approximately 10 to 15 pupils per school would be trained as Green Play Champions, with their influence extending to peers across year groups. Over the course of a year, delivery across five schools could reach 1,000 to 2,000 pupils, alongside teaching staff and families. We expect to see increased climate awareness demonstrated through pupil reflections, quizzes and discussion, alongside observable behaviour changes such as improved hydration habits, safer pacing during heat, and adaptation of play on poor air quality days. Participation levels during challenging conditions and reductions in pupils opting out of PE will also be tracked. By keeping pupils active safely rather than cancelling PE, the programme reduces health harm linked to inactivity
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Green Play Champions and Climate-Resilient PE are innovative because they move climate action beyond awareness and into everyday behaviour, leadership and decision-making within schools and communities. Most climate initiatives aimed at young people are classroom based, information-led or delivered as one off workshops. In contrast, our approach uses sport and physical activity as the primary platform for climate learning, placing understanding within embodied, social and real world experiences. This matters because PE and outdoor activity are where climate risks such as heat, air quality and access to space are already being felt. London recorded temperatures above 40°C in 2022, yet there is currently no standardised approach across London schools for adapting PE to extreme heat or pollution (Greater London Authority climate adaptation reports). Climate-Resilient PE addresses this gap by reframing physical activity as a space for adaptation and resilience, not just fitness. Rather than cancelling PE during heatwaves or high pollution days, the programme provides practical frameworks for adjusting intensity, environments and delivery so participation can continue safely. This shifts school culture from avoidance to adaptation, embedding climate resilience into everyday practice. The Green Play Champions model is a key innovation. Instead of relying on adult led messaging, pupils are trained as peer leaders who help design and deliver activities, model safer behaviours, and promote climate-aware choices across the school. This redistribution of responsibility is intentional. Evidence shows that youth led approaches are particularly effective at influencing peer norms and family behaviour around environmental action (UNICEF youth climate engagement research).
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
The initiative will be led and coordinated by AKC Opportunities Foundation CIC (AKC), working in close partnership with participating schools, pupils and local stakeholders. Responsibilities are shared to ensure the programme is practical, sustainable and embedded within each school community. AKC Project Lead and Delivery Team: AKC will oversee overall project coordination, programme design and delivery. This includes planning and adapting Climate-Resilient PE sessions, training Green Play Champions, delivering staff CPD, and providing schools with practical resources to support ongoing implementation. AKC will also be responsible for safeguarding, quality assurance, monitoring impact and reporting outcomes to funders. Drawing on existing experience delivering PE, targeted interventions and inclusive provision, AKC will ensure activities are safe, accessible and responsive to pupil needs. School Leadership and Staff: Senior leaders and nominated school staff will support implementation by identifying participating classes and pupils, facilitating timetabling, and embedding climate aware practice within the school day. Teaching and support staff will work alongside AKC during delivery, particularly during CPD sessions, to build confidence and ensure approaches can be sustained once direct delivery ends. Schools play a key role in shaping the programme so it aligns with their context and priorities. Green Play Champions (Pupils): Selected pupils will be trained as Green Play Champions and take on active leadership roles. Their responsibilities include supporting the delivery of adapted activities, modelling safe and climate-aware behaviours, sharing messages with peers, and contributing ideas that reflect pupil voice and lived experience. Champions act as a bridge between staff, pupils and families, helping embed change from within the school community. Families and Wider Community: Parents and carers are engaged through shared activities, informal events and take home challenges, supporting the transfer of learning beyond school. Where appropriate, links with local councils or community partners help align the programme with wider environmental and wellbeing priorities. By distributing responsibility across professionals, schools, young people and families, the programme avoids reliance on a single provider and creates the conditions for lasting culture change driven by the community itself.
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 are designing Green Play Champions and Climate-Resilient PE to be something schools can genuinely sustain long term, rather than a short term project that fades once funding ends. Our aim is to embed the programme into existing PE delivery, staff practice, and pupil leadership structures so it becomes part of everyday school life. Our initial rollout will focus on schools we already work closely with, allowing us to test, refine, and strengthen the model in real settings. From there, we plan to expand through multi academy trusts, school clusters, and local authority partnerships, helping the programme reach more schools without losing quality or impact. To support sustainability, we are developing practical resource packs for schools, including Green Play Champion role guidance, climate aware PE lesson plans, and materials designed to support long term culture and behaviour change around sustainability. We will also deliver hands on CPD so teachers and PE leads feel confident running the programme independently over time. In practice, this could look like a pilot school training a small group of pupils as Green Play Champions over a half term, while staff receive support to adapt PE lessons for heat, air quality, and environmental awareness. Champions would help lead safer, climate aware activities and promote positive behaviour across the school community.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/ to grow.
Over the first three months, we will develop and pilot climate-resilient PE guidance by adapting our existing national curriculum PE schemes of work into climate-aware formats. This will include practical adjustments for heat, air quality, rainfall, and cold weather, such as scaling activity intensity, increasing hydration breaks, using shaded or indoor spaces, and offering lower exertion game options. For example, traditional invasion games like basketball or tag may be adapted to include heat-safe pacing, shaded target zones, pollution aware rest periods, and climate-themed activities such as litter collection relays or “find the shade” movement games. Alongside this, we will create a Green Play Champions toolkit, including pupil leadership role guidance, simple training resources, session templates, and support materials to help young people promote safer and more climate-aware play. Champions will also be encouraged to observe PE lessons and support schools in identifying where climate-resilient adjustments can be made. Months four to six will focus on pilot delivery in selected Greenwich schools. During this phase, pupils will be trained as Green Play Champions, co-lead adapted PE sessions, support younger pupils, and help deliver a small climate-themed activity or event, such as a Climate Play Day or a family challenge afternoon. Months seven to twelve will focus on refining and scaling the programme. We will gather feedback from pupils and staff, track impact, improve resources, and expand our resource pack and CPD offer for schools, multi-academy trusts, and local partners. By the end of year one, we aim to have a tested delivery model, a scalable resource library, and a clear plan for borough-wide expansion.
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 would be keen to take part in the 8-week capacity-building programme. As a small organisation delivering ongoing work in schools, participating fully would require dedicated time and some additional operational support to ensure we can engage meaningfully without impacting frontline delivery. If funding support is available, the main costs we may need covered would relate to staff time and programme participation. This includes allocating time for attending training sessions, mentoring, workshops, reflection activities, and applying learning to the development of the Green Play Champions and Climate-Resilient PE programme. Estimated costs could include: Staff time and backfill to maintain delivery during programme participation (approx. £4,000–£6,000) Travel or participation costs for any in-person sessions or meetings (approx. £500–£1,000) Development of programme resources, toolkits, and evaluation materials linked to learning from the programme (approx. £2,000–£3,000) Digital tools or light software costs to support planning, evaluation, or reporting (approx. £500–£1,000) Total estimated support need: £7,000–£10,000
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