Hackney-based, green education service, ecoACTIVE, has won a National Energy Action Award from the Affordable Warmth ñ Sustainable World Awards Scheme. The prize will enable them to increase their outreach work through their green-themed workshops, which aim to turn students into leaders of energy efficiency.

“Delivering environmental projects to young people, especially when the young people in question are initially indifferent and disinterested, can be challenging,” says Fiona McAllister, a member of the education team. “However, when pupils are engaged in the project they discover that caring for the environment is about more than recycling: it’s about respecting themselves and their local community and feeling empowered to take action.”

EcoACTIVE was first set up in 1996. It originally operated out of Rubbish Dump’ ñ The Community Recycling Centre in East London. Their mobile unit, a converted milk float with a solar panel and wind turbine, and a key part of the education programme, was created to facilitate access into local communities.

EcoACTIVE’s learning programme focuses on minimizing waste. They hold assemblies, taster workshops and teacher training sessions. Their Green Champions Scheme runs workshops where pupils can take on activities to help them become eco-champions for their school, run eco-campaigns and showcase their work on topics such as composting waste, energy efficiency, recycling and biodiversity.

“The coming months are packed with exciting, new projects,” informs Fiona. “The Sanctuary Housing Association is funding ecoACTIVE’s work with five Hackney schools designing and installing a recycled feature on each site. We will be working with the pupil referral unit in Haringey to create an edible garden.”

EcoACTIVE also plans to raise funds for a replacement electric vehicle to con-tinue delivering their message. They hope to expand even further into hard-to-reach groups and demonstrate that taking care of our planet can be a fun and valuable experience for all of us.

Contact: EcoACTIVE, c/o Space Studios, 129–131 Mare Street, Hackney, London, E8 3RH. Tel: +44 (0)20 7923 7899 Website: www​.ecoactive​.org​.uk