The Bertha Earth Ambassadors programme is a fully funded, one year programme for young people in Year 7.
Our curriculum supports young people to meaningfully connect with themselves, each other and the environment.
Throughout the year, they will develop their storytelling skills, be given tools to manage their wellbeing, and begin designing and reflecting on their own environmental action journeys. We do this through a series of in-school workshops and off-site trips, culminating in a five-day rural retreat at a working farm called Jamie’s Farm.
Applications for 2023 are now open! Please click below to register interest as a school for the September schools' intake.
Our schools
We currently work with over 120 young people across 6 London schools. You can see some of the young people's journey in the video below.
We have now opened up more places to a select number of mainstream, state-funded schools in the London area for the 2023 BE Ambassadors Programme. This will be a great opportunity for your school to join our current partner schools as we embark on a year-long journey together.
Whilst this initial offer is a one-year programme, we are committed to working closely with our partner schools over a number of years to implement whole-school environmental change.
Who is it for?
This programme is for a group of 30, Year 7 pupils in each school. We are looking for young people who care about our planet, are curious about the role they can play to make a difference, and will commit and dedicate their time and effort needed to complete the year-long journey. No financial contribution is expected or required of anyone participating in the programme.
Meet our current affiliate Schools:
Ark Burlington Danes Academy - Bishop Douglass School - Bishopshalt School - Bolder Academy - Graveney School - Hendon School - Oasis Academy Shirley Park - Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School - Reach Academy Feltham - Rivers Academy West London - Stepney All Saints School - William Ellis School.
What does the programme contain?
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
Launch day
An engaging and interactive day for your entire Year 7 cohort. This supports your transition to the programme and will introduce your young people to some of the key themes of the Bertha Earth Ambassadors programme: storytelling, self care and the connection between our inner and outer environment. From this, 30 young people can put themselves forward to participate for the year.
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER
Nature Connect Day
A day trip for the 30 young people to kick-start the programme with an immersive environmental experience, introducing them to the key themes of the programme. Where possible, this will be co-hosted with a local outdoor community partner that Bertha Earth already has connections with, or that you have identified as being a great fit for the programme.
OCTOBER – APRIL
Workshops
Fourteen one-hour weekly sessions delivered in your school by our trained facilitators. Your young people will be guided through a series of workshops focusing on what it means to be an Ambassador for the planet; self care practices, our current environmental issues and opportunities and the role they can play in making change happen. They will also learn how to make a difference by linking their personal passions with an environmental project of their design.
APRIL – JULY 2023
Jamie’s Farm retreat
Schools that demonstrate a commitment to the programme will be offered the opportunity to send 15 of their most dedicated participants on an experiential five-day, four-night bespoke retreat with our partner, Jamie’s Farm. The retreat will include nature connection, team building, leadership skills, self-care and personal growth. They will also explore the power of storytelling, focusing on the story of the land, food, farming and fashion systems.
After the programme
We hope to offer the chance for ambassadors and partner schools to engage in future programmes and challenges, building cohorts of young people committed to reigniting a great love for our planet.
What is the commitment for my school?
A committed lead teacher to communicate with throughout the year, and lead on implementing all elements of the programme within the school.
All Year 7 for a drop-down day with supervising members of staff.
Support running a selection and nomination process to find our 30 Ambassadors.
Organising travel to a London site for a nature connect day with supervising members of staff.
A classroom space and a supervising member of staff for all the workshops delivered in your school.
Support running a selection and nomination process to find the 15 young people to go on retreat.
A supervising member of staff to go on the retreat who is responsible for pastoral care at night.
The option for a lead teacher to support the school during the Bertha Earth Challenge in a second year of the programme.
How does the Programme help your school meet DfE’s Character Benchmarks and OFSTED expectations?
Benchmark D. How good is our school’s co-curriculum?
Through becoming Bertha Earth Ambassadors, pupils gain a strong sense of purpose and grow in confidence. The programme provides ample opportunities for pupils to collaborate and cooperate, and success is always acknowledged and celebrated.
Benchmark E. How well do we promote the value of volunteering and service to others?
The Bertha Earth Ambassadors Programme promotes civic-mindedness in students. One outcome of the programme is to equip young people to contribute meaningfully to society through environmental action.
Benchmark F. How do we ensure that all our pupils benefit equally from what we offer?
The Bertha Earth is fully funded as a commitment to reducing barriers to participation. We enable young people from all backgrounds to feel they belong and are valued.
How does the Bertha Ambassador Programme help with OFSTED?
Having a thriving community of Bertha Earth Ambassadors in your school is a fantastic way of demonstrating your school’s commitment to personal development.
Bertha Earth Schools provide for learners’ broader development, enabling them to develop and discover their interests, passions, and talents as a tool with which to engage with the environment.
We help young people to develop character – including resilience, confidence, and independence. Well-being is a key tenet of the programme, and we teach students how to keep physically and mentally healthy − equipping them to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society.
Our commitment to Character Education
Becoming a Bertha Earth School is a fantastic way to demonstrate your school’s commitment to Character Education.
Our programme is designed to increase young people’s ability to remain motivated toward long-term goals. Through engaging with environmental projects, they will be supported to overcome and persevere through – and learn from – setbacks when encountered.
Working closely with peers across their year group will strengthen young people’s social confidence and ability to assert ideas clearly and constructively, their capacity to listen attentively to others’ views, and speak persuasively to an audience.
In collaboration with Global Generation, GROW, and Jamie's Farm.
Global Generation is an educational charity, which works together with local children and young people, businesses, residents and families in Camden, Islington and Southwark to create healthy, integrated and environmentally responsible communities.
GROW works with schools and communities delivering bespoke programmes in sustainable food growing and outdoor learning.
Jamie’s Farm acts as a catalyst for change, enabling disadvantaged young people to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
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