The NGO sector in UK boasts a wide variety of ESD activities within formal and informal education at all levels, by nature of the diverse and interlinking remits of many civil society and charity organisations. Approaches to ESD in the sector span across individual educational disciplines – environmental, development, global citizenship, or economic aspects of sustainable development. Many of the NGOs involved with ESD can be grouped into the following activity categories:
Organisations or Museums with environmental or sustainability elements that feature opportunities for learning (e.g. Natural History Museum; National Trust).
It is also clear that climate change is giving some momentum and urgency to ESD and there are a wealth of initiatives and organisations involved in this area most specially the Climate Outreach Information Network (COIN) and ClimateXChange (part of the Oxford University Environmental Change Institute) and the transitions town movement.
Included below are profiles of several prominent civil society organizations working in ESD in England. Links to many other organizations are also included on the links page.
WWF Scotland also have an ambitious work plan and have been instrumental in defining Scotland's participation in and support of the ESD decade.
Development Education Association (DEA)
The Development Education Association is a national network of approximately 250 member organisations that share a commitment to development education, working across all sectors of education in schools and initial teacher education, adult, community and further education, higher education and the youth sector. DEA promotes global learning in policy and practice, through a number of different initiatives, online and educational resources, research reports, and networks. Its mission is to promote “education for a just and sustainable world.”
In April 2005 the DEA, in cooperation with key partners, held a conference entitled “Graduates as Global Citizens” for 63 higher education institutions and DEA member organisations. The conference provided a forum for policymakers and practitioners engaged in higher education to critically examine the role and mission of universities in the context of current sustainable development initiatives such as government agendas and the strategy for international education. The report contains transcripts of presentations, notes, stories and reflections of the day. It also includes the list of participants.
Developing the Global Dimension in School Curriculum** (2005) is a resource principally aimed at head teachers and governors, and those teachers responsible for planning and implementing the school curriculum. It shows how a global dimension can be incorporated into both the curriculum and the wider life of the school.
In June 2006, the DEA held a seminar called “Global Citizenship and Learning for the Future”. The seminar aimed to motivate faith communities to contribute to raising awareness and deepening understanding of global citizenship and sustainable development.
Black and Minority Ethnicity Organisations (BMEs)
At the launch of the ESD Decade in the UK, attendees noted the lack of participation of Black and minority ethnic individuals and organisations at the event. While organisations such as the Black Environmental Network have longstanding success in promoting minority community engagement in environmental issues, the lack of visibility of BME organisations in ESD remains an issue. In November 2006, Black and minority ethnic (BME) members from the DEA and CfD held a roundtable discussion on the role of UK Black and minority ethnic organisations in ESD. The aim of the meeting was to identify key issues, debates and good practice that could be developed further. A number of organisations were interested in further working to share good practice and raise awareness of BME organisations in ESD. These include:
The Council for Environmental Education closed in September 2005. It was a national membership body for organisations and individuals in England committed to environmental education and ESD. CEE worked with and for its membership to develop policy, enhance practice and enable members to work more effectively together. It will soon be re-badged as SEED.
Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future (FFTF) has had a significant impact through its Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability project (HEPS) which between 2001and 2004, took SD issues forward in 18 partner universities and colleges. Its Leadership for Sustainable Development Masters Programme is validated as a Masters in Professional Studies by MiddlesexUniversity.
Groundwork uses the DCSF framework for Sustainable Schools to engage with more schools, to demonstrate the value that sustainable educational experiences can bring and to help make sure that by 2020 there is a real, not just a theoretical sustainable schools culture. Groundwork’s activities also support the DCSF Outdoor Learning Manifesto (2006), which highlights the importance of children finding out about their local environment through school trips and hands-on experiences.
Groundwork supports communities in need, working with partners to help improve the quality of people's lives, their prospects and potential and the places where they live, work and play. Groundwork is working with the EWE Centre, Durham County Council and the DCSF Growing Schools Programme to develop a Regional Strategic Partnership for the North East for ESD. The partnership aims to work with schools, LEA’s and supporting organisations to develop strategic working based around specific education programmes, opportunities for curriculum and professional development as well as regional initiatives.
Eden project
Eden Project has developed a set of tools for public education and engagement with the natural environment, e.g. Gardens for Life that supports people from all walks of life to garden and grow crops. Practical action and IT communication are creating a global community who understand more issues like food security and health, climate change and water, cultures, indigenous knowledge, participation and empowerment, global citizenship, etc. Over 7000 children and young people, 120 teachers, with many families and communities in three continents (Europe, Africa & Asia) have come together to generate new ways of learning about the world.
Oxfam
Oxfam is a global development charity that conducts work in education policy in practice in the UK and around the world. In terms of ESD, Oxfam’s Cool Planet is a website primarily aimed at engaging children, while the Oxfam Education website is geared towards teachers in England, Scotland and Wales. The sites aim to bring the global dimension to the classroom, using the concept and framework of Global Citizenship. One of Oxfam’s key goals is to create a world where every person is skilled. The education programme works with partners and alliances to implement, advocate and campaign for good quality gender-equitable education, ensure adequate financing as well as promote the development of good quality national and sub-national level planning and implementation.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) education policy work aims to influence the education system in the UK and elsewhere in favour of sustainable development. The aim of RSPB is to ensure that biodiversity is seen as an essential component of the whole ESD movement. To achieve their local implementation the RSPB recognises the need to work with the different systems and institutions in each of the four countries of the UK.
For more information on UK civil society organizations working in ESD, please visit our links page.
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Civil Society Organisations
Black and Minority Ethnicity Organisations (BMEs)
Eden
