Youth Sport Trust partners with solar energy firm to deliver new leadership initiative

Loughborough-based children’s charity The Youth Sport Trust (YST) has joined forces with a specialist solar project development company to deliver a nationwide schools programme that equips young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities to lead change.

The Youth Leadership Project, delivered in partnership with Ortus Energy, will build upon YST’s established Athlete Mentors initiative, which harnesses the power of sport to help improve wellbeing and build friendships.

Apart from being environmentally educational, it will also support personal development and consider how young people – as well as leading more active and healthier lives – can work together for a more sustainable planet and future.

The project is aimed at young leaders aged 14-16 years.

Five schools across the UK are participating in initial co-creation workshops this summer, with 15 more schools set to join them for a pilot programme running from September to December. The national roll out – involving 230 schools – will last for the entirety of 2023.

Ali Oliver MBE, CEO at the Youth Sport Trust, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Ortus Energy.  These are extraordinary times for our young people and things have become critical for their health and happiness. We live in a world where we are moving less, where digital technology is having an increasing impact on young lives and where children feel lonely and disconnected.

“This exciting partnership with Ortus Energy will enable us, the Youth Sport Trust, to empower communities of young leaders who harness the positive power of play and sport to improve wellbeing, build friendships and foster understanding for their peers.

“We strive to be a globally responsible charity and through our partnership with Ortus Energy we are also committed to enabling schools across the UK to access solar power, increasing their awareness and positive contribution to our climate change crisis.”

London-based Ortus is part of the Integrum Power group.

CEO Alistair Booth said: “We’re all about powering change – and change for the better. Supporting Youth Sport Trust enables us to demonstrate that commitment. The power of sport is important, it builds self-esteem, it encourages healthy competition and, most importantly, respect for one another. These are all core values we hold very dear as well.

“Through this collaboration, we also want to help schools become more energy resilient and invest in more positive outcomes – not only for their young people and future leaders through the inclusive power of sport, but a clean, green energy source that will dramatically reduce both fuel costs and their carbon footprint. Together with Youth Sport Trust, we will power a future that is sustainable for the next generation.”