News - Little Green Change Ltd

We're a UK StartUp Awards SW finalist

We're delighted to be one of 4 finalists in the South West regional UK StartUp Awards, StartUp For Good category. Achieving this milestone is no small feat, especially considering the record-breaking number of entries they have received this year, so it's wonderful to have our environmental education activities recognised in this way.

We're a Small Awards finalist

We're one of 8 finalists at the The Small Awards 2024, New Kid on the Block category for best business start-up (less than 18 months), sponsored by TSB. The winner will be announced on 16th May at a glitzy event in London, which we'll be attending. You can read an article about this in the Midweek Herald newspaper by clicking here.

Hedgerow surveying project

We're working with Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN) to launch a new hedgerows project, engaging local schools, community groups and residents in Lyme Regis, Dorset. Funded by Lyme Regis Town Council, there will be 3 community hedgerow surveying sessions in May 2024. Find out more on our hedgerows page.

Check out our promo video

We've released a 10 second video to celebrate the time that has passed since our official launch in September 2023, and we've included photos from a range of our events and actions. How many featured people, schools, charities and organisations do you recognise? Watch it on our YouTube channel and let us know what you think.

Learn about bumblebees

As part of our Schools Programme, we gain speakers from national and regional charities and businesses to talk about their areas of expertise. Our latest talk is by Andy Benson from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and it's full of useful facts and information. You can watch our talks on our website, or on our YouTube channel.

PFA 'forever chemicals' in UK food

PFAs, known as ‘forever chemicals,’ have been found in common UK fruits, vegetables and spices, prompting health fears from campaigners as they have been linked to severe health conditions. This is a topic we'll be covering in our human health module. Find out more about our Schools Programme on our Education page.

Our April 2024 newsletter

Win our Spring 2024 book bundle

Every school that completes one of our Schools Programme lessons, worksheets or activities is entered into our termly book bundle draw. We have some amazingly engaging books this term including Climate Change for Beginners, and 100 Things to Know about Saving the Planet. Thank you to our literacy sponsor, Usborne Publishing.

Our Sustainable Business Award

Issued to us by Litter Free Dorset, this award recognises Dorset businesses that are taking positive steps to reduce their impact on the environment. It focuses on areas including the reduction of single use plastic, water conservation, responsible waste management practices, community engagement and staff awareness.

Donate to us for free

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online, you could be raising a free donation for Little Green Change? There are over 8,000 brands ready to give us a donation every time you shop online via easyfundraising including John Lewis & Partners, eBay, Tesco, Argos, Groupon, and TUI. It only takes 2 minutes to sign up.

We've gained 1,000 followers

It's been just over 6 months since we launched Little Green Change, and already we've gained over 1,000 followers across our social media platforms (we're on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube). A huge THANK YOU to everyone that has supported us so far. If you haven't followed us yet on social media, please do.

What is ecocide?

That's the topic of our latest talk by Youth for Ecocide Law speaker, Debbie Buyaki. Aimed at a secondary-aged audience, Debbie explains how ecocide impacts the planet, wildlife and human health, as well as the laws required to tackle it. You can view all our speaker talks on our website and YouTube channel.

Work experience feedback

Our tailored work experience opportunities are available to students at state-funded schools in Devon and Dorset. We've had students from The Sir John Colfox Academy, and Colyton Grammar School, with The Woodroffe School to follow. Feedback has been hugely positive, with each student recommending their placement.

Our March 2024 newsletter

We've won a Jurassic Business Award

We're delighted to have won the Green/Eco Business of the Year category at the 2024 Jurassic Business Awards. We're proud of our long list of achievements since our official launch, and we have lots to look forward to including exciting partnerships, projects and resources. Sign up to our e-news for regular updates.

Biodiversity funding gained

We've gained funding, courtesy of the Norman Family Charitable Trust, to deliver FREE biodiversity improvements and assemblies to primary and secondary state-funded schools in Devon and South-West Somerset including tree planting, habitat creation (bird boxes, insect hotels, water habitats), and organic food growing.

Creation of an orchard in Chickerell

We're partnering with Chickerell Town Council to plant an orchard comprising of apple, pear, plum and cherry trees at a community site in the town, thanks to funding by the Tree Council's Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund. Planting will take place on Saturday 9th March. If you'd like to help plant on the day, get in touch.

Our new lessons covering waste

We've launched our new Schools Programme waste module with a lesson on textiles and fast fashion. This is in addition to lessons on food waste recycling, electricals (WEEE), plastics, and careers in the waste sector. All our Schools Programme resources are FREE to state-funded schools in the UK. Find out more, and sign up, here.

Our latest expert speakers

We've released new speaker talks covering different topics, which complement our Schools Programme waste module. These include Maria Chenoweth, Chief Executive of the clothing charity Traid, and Co-founder of the ground-breaking Charity Super.Mkt. You can view all our speaker talks on our website and YouTube channel.

Easter seed sowing sessions

We're partnering with Axminster Library (Libraries Unlimited), Lyme Regis Library (Dorset Council), and Chickerell Town Council to bring you three, free, seed sowing events in Devon and Dorset over the Easter school holiday. These events are suitable for children aged 4 and over. No booking is required. View our event posters here.

Our February 2024 newsletter

Work experience opportunities

Year 12 students are being offered opportunities including environmental project planning, fundraising research and bid writing, and creating written content for our website's inspiration pages and 2024 magazine. An opportunity to shadow our Founder and Director for a day is also included. Contact us for more information.

Lyme Regis Business Association

Our Founder and Director, Clare Matheson, has been appointed to the Lyme Regis Business Association's Executive Committee. The Association is made up of a wide range of businesses including those on the high street. Little Green Change plays an active part in the community, so Clare's appointment complements this.

We're members of Dorset CAN

We're proud to be a member of the Dorset Climate Action Network - a county wide network of community groups and individuals working together for a shared vision of a clean, green, sustainable Dorset. Dorset CAN also engages with Dorset Council and BCP Council to progress this aim. Read more about this network

Our January 2024 newsletter

Wishing you a merry Christmas

We would like to wish all our colleagues, sponsors, schools, charity partners, and supporters a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. 2023 has been an eventful year, and we are looking forward to delivering even more in 2024, including additional Schools Programme modules, eco events, competitions, environmental actions, and our first award ceremony.

Little Green Change in Tesco

We are delighted that Tesco has chosen us as one of their Stronger Starts fundraising token box organisations in 2024. From mid-January until the end of March, shoppers will be able to vote for us in both their Axminster store and their Lyme Regis store. All the money raised will go towards free eco events in the community, so please remember to vote.

Wild About Gardens

Wild About Gardens (a partnership between the RHS and The Wildlife Trusts) are promoting our Little Green Change expert speaker talks in December. Our Schools Programme biodiversity module launched earlier this year and includes 2 talks by the RHS; one on careers in horticulture, and one on plant pests and diseases. You can watch these here.

Our December 2023 newsletter

Children's Give & Take event

Little Green Change has teamed up with 2 businesses; Martin Diplock Chartered Surveyors, and Scott Rowe Solicitors, to deliver a Children's Give & Take event on 3rd December in Dorset. It is expected to divert a mountain of children's clothes, toys, and kids books from landfill and incineration, and help over 100 children. Find out more here.

2 hours, 5,000 bulbs!

The Chickerell Community Crocus Challenge took place on Saturday 11th November 2023. Organised by Chickerell Town Council, with the support of Little Green Change, it saw an impressive 5,000 bulbs planted in just 2 hours! An amazing effort by everyone involved, including all the fabulous people that turned up to volunteer.

Planting at Beaminster School

Enthusiastic students from Beaminster School's Eco Club volunteered to plant daffodil & crocus bulbs on their school grounds with Clare Matheson, Founder and Director of Little Green Change. Thanks to Lyme Regis Rotary Club for donating the crocus bulbs, & to Taylors Bulbs for the daffodils. View a selection of photos here.

#GreenCareersWeek 2023

Little Green Change is celebrating #GreenCareersWeek by sharing content from our biodiversity careers lesson (free as part of our Schools Programme to UK state-funded schools) on our Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn social media pages. Find out more about our Schools Programme here.

Environmental career speakers

We're promoting our biodiversity career speakers as part of #GreenCareersWeek, including this informative talk by Ali Quinney, Ecologist at Dorset Council. Ali shares lots of insightful advice for students interested in an ecology career. We also have career speakers from RHS Garden Wisley, and the Countryside Regeneration Trust.

Our biodiversity lessons for schools

State-funded schools in the UK can sign up to receive our free Schools Programme lessons, starting with our biodiversity module which covers a subject overview, British Wildlife, trees, plants for pollinators, pests & diseases, & careers in biodiversity. There are optional worksheets, activities, speaker videos and school audits.

Our November 2023 newsletter

Meet Boo the Pumpkin

Little Green Change has been gifted a pumpkin, as part of the #EatYourPumpkin campaign. Boo has been travelling far and wide using sustainable modes of transport, starting in London & heading to Waterloo for an overground train, but where will Boo end up? Find out on the run up to Halloween via our dedicated website page.

Global Good Awards Purpose Summit

Little Green Change's Founder & Director, Clare Matheson, attended the Purpose Summit, held at the grand BMA building in London, in her capacity as a Global Good Awards Educational Excellence judge. The event included panel talks on topics including the circular economy and partnerships, as well as an awards dinner.

Dorset Chamber Business Expo

Little Green Change attended Dorset Chamber's Business Expo, held at the Hilton Bourenmouth. Our Founder and Director, Clare Matheson, spoke to lots of businesses about potential collaborations, and supporting the environmental education and action work we do across schools & the Dorset community.

Recent news articles

We're thrilled to be featured in local newspapers again including the Dorset Echo, and the Bridport and Lyme Regis News, for our bulb planting events. 100% of the students that attended stated they enjoyed the event and would recommend it to friends. You can read a selection of Little Green Change press articles here.

New videos on our YouTube channel

We're delighted to have an increasing number of Little Green Change expert speaker videos, representing both national and regional charities & organisations, available on our YouTube channel. These include talks by Forestry England, RHS Garden Wisley, the British Dragonfly Society (pictured), and Butterfly Conservation.

Our work with Thames Hospice

On Saturday 7th October, students & staff from across 3 schools attended Little Green Change's bulb planting event at Thames Hospice. They planted daffodil, tulip and crocus bulbs, which will flower each Spring. We are looking forward to future biodiversity events at their site in Berkshire, and sharing photos of the flowers when they emerge.

Bulb planting at Chickerell Libary

We partnered with Chickerell Community Library to organise a bulb planting event in their public garden on Monday 2nd October 2023. Thank you to The Gardens Group, & Taylors Bulbs, for donating the bulbs.

#GoGreenLibrariesWeek

We've teamed up with 2 Dorset libraries to organise eco-pledge posters and bulb planting sessions at Chickerell Community Library (2nd) and Lyme Regis Library (6th). View our event posters on our Action page.

New plastic law in England

From 1st October 2023, it is illegal for businesses to supply, sell or offer certain single-use plastic items in England including plates, bowls, trays, cutlery, balloon sticks, & polystyrene food & drink containers.

Our October 2023 newsletter

Our work with Weldmar Hospicecare

Students from 3 schools in Dorset attended our bulb planting event on 30th September, helping to plant daffodil, bluebell and snowdrop bulbs on the beautiful grounds at Weldmar Hospicecare's Inpatient Unit.

Our expert speaker talks

We're excited about the launch of our YouTube channel in October, and the expert speaker talks we've created in conjunction with national & local environmental charities and organisations. More to follow soon.

Nearly 1 in 6 species risking extinction

The State of Nature Report 2023 has just been released. It shows wildlife in the UK is continuing to decline, & the UK is now one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. Read the report by clicking here.

We're members of Social Enterprise UK

Social enterprises are businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose, prioritising benefits to people & planet. As a non-profit social enterprise, we use any surplus to increase our work with schools.

Our Founder, Clare, on Lyme Bay Radio

Don't worry if you missed our Founder and Director, Clare Matheson, live on Lyme Bay Radio on 16th September 2023, you can listen to the interview, and her seven song choices, on-demand by clicking here.

We attended the Dorset COP

In September 2023, we joined over 100 organisations for the UK's first ever community-led Conference of the Parties (COP), focussing on reducing carbon emissions & mitigating climate change.

Our September 2023 newsletter

Speakers Press Wall of Fame

Little Green Change Ltd is a non-profit social enterprise, incorporated in England and Wales. Company number 14942165. Copyright © Little Green Change Ltd, 2024