PFG supports community project to engage Hampshire’s youth on climate change

Provident Financial Group (PFG), the leading provider of credit products to consumers who are underserved by mainstream banks, is very pleased to be sponsoring Learning@The Grange, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The project aims to amplify the voices of 250 young people in Hampshire to express their hopes and vision for a sustainable future.

Nine schools and educational institutions in Hampshire took part in interactive workshops between April and June, focused on climate change and the steps countries and individuals need to take to drive change. The workshops were guided by WWF, and groups were encouraged to look at different issues facing global landscapes from the Amazon rain forest and wetlands of South America to our Ancient Woodlands here in the UK.

In response to the discussions, the groups composed music and choreographed dance performances, which were produced into a collection of short films. These films will be shown at a number of global climate conferences, including COP26 in November, to drive conversations about how to sustain life on Earth.

Malcolm Le May, Chief Executive Officer, PFG commented: “Making a proactive effort to combat climate change is an urgent priority. At PFG, we know that it will be our children, and our children’s children, that will be disproportionately impacted by climate change if we stand still and do nothing. We also know that by engaging with children on climate change topics, we can encourage them to think creatively and innovatively about how we can all work towards creating a more sustainable vision for the future.

This is why we are proud to be supporting Learning@TheGrange to ensure we engage with the next generation, and harness the skills needed to tackle climate change. These workshops took an innovative look at how to tackle this issue, harnessing the outstanding creativity of the young people in the Hampshire community. I hope all the films that have been produced through this collaboration are a great source of inspiration for the delegates at COP26 and beyond.” 

The collection of films will be launched on Wednesday 29^th September 11-12 noon at the Grange Festival theatre to an audience of young people, teachers, educationalists, and environmentalists. The session will be presented by The Grange Festival creative team and WWF. For access to the films, and other materials, please visit either https://thegrangefestival.co.uk/ or https://www.vanquisbankinggroup.com/sustainability/responding-climate-change/supporting-hampshires-youth-climate-change/

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About Provident Financial Group

Provident Financial plc is a leading provider of credit products which provide financial inclusion for those consumers who are not well served by mainstream lenders. The group serves 1.8 million customers, and provides credit cards, vehicle finance and loans.

This community initiative forms part of PFG’s wider commitment to sustainability. PFG’s climate-related targets are aligned with the Paris agreement and they have an overall ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

PFG have also committed to meeting the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) by 2022. PFG offset their direct operational carbon footprint by financing renewable energy projects around the world to mitigate the effects their operations have on the climate. This year, they offset 4,507 tonnes of CO₂e, which accounted for all of the Group’s 2020 operational footprint. These emissions were offset through the purchase of carbon offset certificates in the Weyerhaeuser Carbon Sequestration Project in La Pitanga, Uruguay.

About Learning@TheGrange

The Grange, one of the most celebrated neo-classical mansions in Britain, is located in Hampshire, seven miles from Winchester, and owned by the family of John Baring, Lord Ashburton. English Heritage has a guardianship deed on the Grade I-listed building.

Learning@TheGrange programme is for schools and the local community, to share their passion for opera and dance with young and old alike. Their aim is to demystify opera and dance, and create exciting and stimulating opportunities to engage with the Hampshire public.

At a time when the performing arts, especially music, are increasingly being side-lined in the national curriculum, they are committed to helping local schools to keep the arts alive. They regularly engage with young people and their teachers to spark creativity, build confidence and develop the emotional intelligence and balanced mental state they require for their future lives.

Learning@TheGrange, in collaboration with WWF, will offer 200 young people (aged 7-23 years) a creative platform to express their hopes and visions for a sustainable future.