Mini-Jury

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Mini-Jury

Students from Budehaven's Mini-Jury present to the main jury at Wooda

The UK, like many other developed countries, has an ageing population and a growing generational divide. Older voters now outnumber the young, and this is increasingly reflected in policy priorities. Yet it is young people who will live with the consequences of climate change.

Alongside the main Bude Area Community Jury, through this project 480 local primary school children worked with Storylines to create postcards for the future, visualising their hopes and thoughts about a climate change. And a mini-jury took place at Budehaven Community School. This is the first time in England that a climate jury has taken place within a school setting!

Budehaven School Mini-Jury

What was the Mini-Jury?

In October 2023, students at Budehaven Community School were asked to draw a raffle ticket during their weekly assembly.

Out of 1,014 students, 40 students would receive a ticket (and a chocolate bar!) that would give them a chance of being selected for the Mini-Jury. 24 students were then selected and invited, according to the demographic makeup of the school.

The resultant Jury consisted of 18 young people, aged 11-16. They met for a total of 12 hours (3 half days) beginning on Friday 3rd of November. During this time, Mini-Jury members heard from 7 ‘expert’ commentators, and shared their own lived expertise.

The Mini-Jury developed 18 recommendations for the Budehaven Community School and the wider community to take action on climate change and other environmental issues.

This is the first time in England that a climate jury has taken place within a school setting.

Who were the 'expert' commentators?

Professor Mark Baldwin, Professor of Climate Science, Exeter University: What is climate change?

Dr Tiago de Melo Cartaxo, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Law, Exeter University: Climate change: what have we been doing to address it?

Skye Neville, Young Campaigner, Kids Against Plastic Tat

Martin Dorey, Founder, 2 Minute Foundation

Phillipa Purchase, Friends of the Earth, School’s Climate Action Plan

Suzanne Gibbon, Ashden, Let’s Go Zero

Inaaya Ijaz, Chief Voice Officer, Kids Against Plastic

Mini-Jury Report & Recommendations

In the final session, the Youth Mini-Jury reflected on the work that they had done over the past month to produce a list of recommendations. On the morning of the final session, the Mini-Jury dedicated some time to thinking about the different actions that they, their communities, and their schools could take to address climate change and a range of other environmental issues.

Eighteen recommendations were drafted in total. Each young person ranked their top seven recommendations
from the list, according to how important they felt they would be in addressing climate and environmental issues.

The full recommendations can be found in the Mini-Jury Report, and are summarised below.

Mini-Jury Full Report

Summary of Recommendations

We must help clean our beaches. This can be done through monthly supervised beach cleans from school (give house points), regular eco-club beach clean and supporting the two-minute beach clean.

Energy efficiency in school. Some rooms in school are too hot and some are too cold. We need to find out how to equalise the temperature in all rooms. Everyone should turn off computers and electrical things if they aren’t being used.

Raise funds for tackling climate change initiatives e.g. for growing food.

The school canteen. The school should ask us what food we want to reduce food waste. Investigate what is sold in the canteen to check if products are sustainable and ethically sourced and no single use plastic/plastic packaging is used. Reusable cups for soft drinks to be served in.

Our school has virtually no green space; there is so much concrete and little colour. Use empty green space in the school to grow flowers and other plants and make space for wildlife (e.g. bees), for example behind JWH, The Pearl Bamford Garden, Sports Day pitch, the bank next to the sports hall.

Don’t drive to school if not needed! Lots of people walk to school or come on the bus but we need to find out how to help people who drive to walk, get a bus or cycle instead. Support cycling by providing help for people to repair and maintain their bikes, (cheap or free).

We need to raise awareness of environmental impact of vapes, which litter our beach and school

Investigate whether having no school uniforms might help address climate change

We need fewer single use cups with plastic lids.

We need somewhere to donate second-hand uniforms and PE kit.

Have a ‘Meat Free Monday’ to help people try different diverse plant-based meals hot and cold including more fruit so that people can see that plant-based food is not that bad at all.

Use empty green space in the school to grow food. For example a polytunnel or something similar, plant pots, beds, use a water drainage system for watering our plants connecting gutters to roofs, this will also help stop flooding in the school.

We need recycling bins around the school. Each year group should have two or three eco-reps to monitor recycling. Food waste could be recycled by composting.

Only go long distances if it is necessary. Try to use public transport if it’s available and think about climate change before you travel.

Be careful about what you buy and think about what went into making it and how it got to the shop.

Tell more people about the dirt bike track in Stratton. Organise a group visit to show people what is there as an encouragement to be active and not on devices.

Organise a school group(s), to drive these ideas forward. It must be fun and interesting and at a good time with a clear aim and rewards.

Find out if the school can buy electricity that comes from wind or solar power companies if they’re not expensive.

Budehaven Student presenting to the Jury

Facilitator introduces students from Budehaven

Young student with the oldest jury member

“I am really sorry that I am not in school today, but I wanted to send you all a message on this important day. We are completely behind what you are all doing with the Bude Climate Partnership and the discussions and decisions you make within your work here are hugely important, not locally, but across the world.

We are pioneers in this project; everything you do will be used as part of a template for schools across the UK. As a school community, we will respect the decisions you make and will support you in all you do.

Well done for being part of this!”

Dominic Wilkes, Headteacher, Budehaven Community School