Making for Climate Change

Collage created by Cara Standham – Truth of the Youth Residency, 2023

2023 – Present
Birmingham

Making for Climate Change is a project connecting with young people who are LGBTQ+ and those who are Deaf and hard of hearing to use craftivism to address the climate challenge in their communities.

Our Truth of the Youth Residency in 2023 told us how important the climate challenge is to young people.  It also told us some young people can face barriers to getting involved in social action for the environment.  Through this programme we hope to give a group of young people a voice and enable them to bring about change in themselves and their communities

What will we be doing?

Over 2024-25 we will be connecting with young people who are LGBTQ+ and those who are Deaf and hard of hearing through a series of climate-focused conversations, workshops and events. Young people will take the lead roles and we will share what we do on social media and here on the website.

Our work so far

We invited LGBTQ+ young people to take part in a focus group to tell us about the climate challenges that most impacted them and any barriers they faced in taking action.

They were worried about plastic overload, flooding, bush fires and wildlife decline.  They talked to us about capitalism, structural inequality, poverty and greenwashing. Suggested actions included food forests, mending cafes and clothes swapping spaces. They also suggesting learning from our elders and those from other communities who have many of the answers.  Barriers to getting involved included cost, climate anxiety and the fear of being visible but they also reflected on the power of the collective, the importance of anger as a tool and activism as a characteristic of Queerness.

This learning has informed our next steps. We recruited young LGBTQ+ creative producer, Erin Gilbey, who developed and delivered a series of artist-led climate craft events for LGBTQ+ young people across the city between July and October 2024. Sessions took place at Crick Gardens Handsworth, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, All Saints Church and Kings Heath Bookshop. Erin also hosted a Climate Craft Café and exhibition at Centrala.

Some of the sessions connected to existing LGBTQ+ and environmental  groups such as Nature Connects, All Saints Mosaic group and Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust. Over 70 young people attended and they explored a range of materials and making processes focusing on the climate emergency and how to find hope through creativity and action.

The events were drawn by young illustrators Layla Sadiq and Rosie Rattier and you can see some of their drawings below.

We hope to continue working creatively with some of the participants over the next year. Watch this space for more details.

Our main focus for October 2024 to October 2025 is to connect with young people who are Deaf and hard of hearing and we have recruited a Deaf and hard of hearing creative producer to lead this work.

Get Involved