Background information

Prior to the Dunescapes project, there was a lack of capacity to deliver deep and meaningful children and young people (CYP) engagement. Alike with neighbouring conservation organisations, CYP engagement was limited to school visits and our family play programming offer.

While working in Purbeck and developing partnerships and strong relationships with the youth groups, local schools, and community clubs we discovered a real need to increase this engagement. There was clear, anecdotal and data, evidence that CYP were not engaged with their local landscape. 40% of Swanage School students had not been to Studland beach, an even larger proportion had not explored the vast nature sites in Purbeck, attributing the main reason as “don’t know where to go, don’t know what to do and have no one to go with”.

We were in a strong position to make change in Purbeck. We had long term relationships with many partners and organisations in Purbeck and afield, we also had an opportunity to work collaboratively with current CYP providers and make the change where it was needed. We began mapping out CYP nature engagement from 0-25, looking at what is available on a journey from intervention – connection – understanding – action. We discovered the gaps, and the areas that already are well met, and we worked strategically across the landscape to meet the needs.

During the Dunescapes project some of the CYP highlights include: developing an under 18 volunteering offer, delivering under 18 and university placements, working with multiple teams across NT to see the worth and value of bringing in CYP, delivering co-created events with young people for young people, setting up the Planet Purbeck Youth Group, CPD sessions and borrow boxes, strong local school partnerships, presence in the CYP networks and partnerships to provide opportunities for targeted CYP groups (SEN youth clubs, family bereavement charities, CYP therapeutic care charities, youth groups).