Events and News

Planet and People - the future of Planet Earth

Mid-Devon based entrepreneurs, Jess Carter & Bethia Stevenson-Paul, from Planet & People CIC have secured up to £15,000 of funding and won a place on a prestigious learning programme, to help empower the next generation by inspiring a positive and proactive response to the climate and ecological crisis through educational workshops. They are also working on an online eco-membership as well as offering practical sustainable solutions for schools and businesses to become planet positive.

Jess Carter, a Co-Director of Planet & People, a Community Interest Company based between Tiverton and Exeter, is one of 15 leaders in Devon to have been selected for the competitive learning programme and Match Trading grant of up to £15,000.

The Devon Social Entrepreneurs Programme is led by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) in partnership with Devon Communities Together, New Prosperity Devon, and Stir to Action. It is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, which is managed by Devon County Council within the Devon area.

In addition, Jess & Bethia have also secured a further £10,000 from the National Lottery Awards For All and additional funding from local private funds and the Exeter Chiefs Foundation. They have also been awarded a scholarship to the online ‘One To Many’ Course run by Lisa Johnson, business strategist and passive income specialist.

This funding will enable Jess and Bethia to lower the financial barrier and support schools with environmental education as well as gaining the valuable expertise from the four-month Accelerator learning programme with the School for Social Entrepreneurs, which supports people starting up and running social enterprises, charities, community business and environmental projects.

Jess says: “I am thrilled to have been accepted onto the Devon Social Entrepreneurs Programme and we have been completely overwhelmed by the support and positive feedback from schools and other clients. These funding and learning opportunities will enable us to run efficiently and support as many schools as possible over the coming months and years, in a time when understanding and protection of the natural world is paramount. We can take the pressure off teachers and businesses by working with them and finding solutions to overcome barriers to sustainability by shifting mindsets and helping them to gain easy wins as well as saving carbon, time and money!”

Planet & People has lots in the pipeline and is currently taking bookings from schools for the next installments of their Planet Action Workshop series. These include themes such as: ‘Environmental Healthcheck, ‘This Year On Earth’ for the Summer Term and ‘Planet Minded’ and ‘Speak Up’ for the next academic year.

Planet Action Businesses has also begun as the Planet & People team produce content for (construction) companies to engage communities effectively as well as carrying out ‘Environmental Healthchecks’ for businesses to become planet positive.

If you would like a free guide on ‘Top Ten Tips For Setting Up Your School Eco-Community’ or any other support, explore www.planetandpeople.co.uk to learn more or email hello@planetandpeople.co.uk to get in touch directly.

SOURCE: Planet & People CIC, Jess Carter.