Dr Verity Jones, verity6.jones@uwe.ac.uk
Sparks have been flying the last few months with some electrifying leaps in sustainable education in Bristol and you are invited to come and take a peek on July 4th 5-6.15pm.
I have had the pleasure of working with Global Goals Centre for four years, throughout which we have been developing exciting, research informed climate and sustainable education. The dream has always been to have a physical site to work with schools and the public to engage, enthuse and educate on issues pertaining to the protection of people and planet for a sustainable future. In May 2023 this was realised with the opening of Sparks, a former department store in the heart of Bristol’s busy Broadmead shopping centre.
Sparks aims to disrupt what a department store is and invites you to reconsider the what, how and why of what you purchase.
Sparks has the usual departments of a large store – fashion, home furnishings, electrics and food. The difference is that what is on offer has sustainability, education and community at its heart. Furnishings, electricals and clothing are preloved with opportunities to learn how to repair and mend. Food is locally sourced from 60 small producers and the gift shop provides a space for over 80 local creatives to sell their wares. At the centre of the store is the Department of Discovery where schools, colleges and other groups can come and take part in one of the workshops I have developed with Manu Maunganidze. Listening to the needs of local schools we offer creative spaces to explore fast fashion, global food supply, sustainable transport, migration and biodiversity at a time of ecological and climate emergency.
On 4th July, we invite teachers to come for a free tour and see what it’s all about.
We know that many young people are concerned about the planet and we have developed hopeful pedagogies to support learners in navigating their emotional responses to these issues. While it’s important to recognise facts about carbon emissions, habitat loss and changing weather patterns, we believe it’s also important to frame this situation in the good news stories of how people and organisations are working towards mitigation – and how we may be able to support these. Feeling part of the solution can be empowering.
Having opportunities to engage with issues of sustainability face to face is great, but I’ve been extending that reach nationally and internationally through the Climate Change Primary Education Research Network
As Chair of UWE’s Climate Change Primary Education Research network, I have been organising termly online events that bring researchers, teachers and student teachers together to discuss their work and practice. Developing professional networks where up to date insights in sustainable education can be shared and critiqued are essential. In June I was able to reconnect with Disappearing Dialogue Collective – a community education charity in Kolkata, who I have previously partnered with in researching sustainable education practice in India. We delivered a hybrid event where I shared the work going on in the UK with teachers from India. In it we recognised the common challenges teachers face relating to lack of subject knowledge, resources, budgets and time to plan and deliver important learning about the environment as well as the successes.
As we prepare to end another academic year and plan for a new one, the English Curriculum remains stubbornly married to a view where climate and sustainability are notably missing. Networks, partnerships and collaborations with interesting and engaged people help to move thinking and practice on, and provide hope that the way we approach education for greater sustainable development is possible.
- To book a place on the Sparks tour for Teachers (4th July 2023, 5-6.15) please email info@globalgoalscentre.org or check out the website www.sparksbristol.co.uk
- To join the Climate Change Primary Education Research Network please email verity6.jones@uwe.ac.uk and follow Verity on @VerityJones_Edu
latest publications:
Jones, V. & Podpadec, T (2023) Young People, Climate Change and Fast Fashion, Environmental Education Research, 10.1080/13504622.2023.2181269
Jones, V., Gupta, N., & Mitre, S. (2023). Climate change and sustainability education in India and the place for arts-based practice: Reflections from East Kolkata Wetlands. London Review of Education, 20(1), https://doi.org/10.14324/lre.20.1.48.
Jones, V., MacLeod C. (2022) Why Children Need to Read About Plants at a Time of Climate Change, Children’s Literature in Education, 10-29 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-022-09511-x
