A youth group working with people predominantly from ethnic minority backgrounds in Lawrence Hill, Easton and St Pauls is working to encourage sustainable travel and increase participation in the dialogue around climate change. The environmental movement has often been criticised for being dominated by those from white, middle class backgrounds and the sector has previously been found to be the second least diverse in the UK.
Bristol Somali Youth Voice has been holding workshops with young people living in parts of Bristol with some of the worst air quality with the aim of increasing awareness around climate change. They have been taking groups out on cycling trips and encouraging less car use.
The group predominantly works in the Lawrence Hill ward, one the most economically deprived areas of Bristol. The latest Census data shows that those living in Lawrence Hill ward are much more concerned about traffic and air pollution in their neighbourhood than the average Bristolian, but they have the lowest number of cars per person.
