Coasts for Kids, a project involving young people from Sefton, has won the prestigious Climate Creatives Challenge, securing the top spot in the Coastal Change theme.

Back in 2021, young people in Sefton were involved in the project to raise awareness of climate issues. Working with scientists at Edge Hill University, they produced a series of short, educational videos to teach primary school pupils about the vital role that coasts play in our ecosystem.

Since then, Coasts for Kids’ videos have attracted global attention from across the international coastal community and have been translated into different languages.

And now the project, developed in partnership with Professor of Coastal Geomorphology Irene Delgado-Fernandez, Sefton Council and the Southport Centre Education Service, has been announced as the winner of the prestigious Climate Creatives Challenge award.

The competition drew entries from a staggering 56 countries, showcasing a diverse array of creative expressions focused on the theme of Coastal Change and strategies for adaptation. Eighty-six entries were shortlisted, 20 received commendations, and Coasts for Kids stood out as one of just three projects awarded the highest accolade.

Darren Lloyd, Resident Teacher and Education Projects Manager at Southport’s Eco Centre, said: “I am thrilled that Coasts for Kids is the recipient of such a prestigious award. It is testament of the hard work and demonstrates the power of working with external partners on creating innovative avenues for engagement.

“The main ethos of the Eco Centre’s work has always been about creating platforms to equip our young people with the skills and confidence to become educators in their own right.

“The Coasts for Kids series is a fantastic tool to allow both teachers and parents to nurture this. As ambassadors for the future, it is paramount that they understand the impact, both negative and positive, we can have on our environment.”

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said: “In Sefton we have 22-miles of stunning dynamic coastline, constantly changing with tides, winds, waves, storms and people. It is so important that future generations understand how these have shaped our coast over the years and will continue to do so and with the threat of climate change.

“I hope the success of Coasts for Kids encourages and inspires more people to use the videos to learn more about our changing coastlines, in Sefton and beyond.

“All the young people involved should be very proud of themselves.”

Coasts for Kids videos

Coasts for Kids is a collaborative experience between children and their parents, coastal scientists, community artists, teachers, animators and coastal managers.

The series of five videos have been narrated by school children in Sefton and are designed to empower children to understand the often complex language used in coastal science, in the hope that they will develop a greater awareness and interest in the challenges facing the world’s coastlines from an early age.

The series and accompanying teachers notes are available to download for free via the Eco Centre’s website at www.southportecocentre.com