Young ACAN has been supporting young people in and around Alton to become agents for positive change since 2021. On January 31, it hosted its third eco-conference at Alton College, bringing together 82 students from 12 local schools.  The ‘Treasure Not Trash’ conference, funded by the Transition Network, aimed to empower young minds by transforming them into trash-fighting superheroes, equipped with the knowledge of how to reduce waste and how to share this information with their school communities. The students were welcomed by Young ACAN Lead, Emma Jones. Hampshire County Council Waste Champion, Roland Richardson, presented students with frightening statistics about the problem of waste, including the surprising fact that food waste and clothing, not plastic, make up the majority of global waste. During the conference, students participated in diverse workshops covering topics such as sustainable fashion, composting, ocean plastic and waste-free food.  Through these workshops, the students learned practical ways to reduce waste and promote sustainability in their schools and beyond, including visiting a refill shop like Fill-Up in Alton or making a patch to mend jeans.

To conclude the conference, students and teachers were treated to the premiere of a film about Alton’s Repair Cafe, made by film students from Alton College. This showcases the value of repairing rather than discarding items. Additionally, a competition was launched to create a comic strip featuring a waste-monster fighting superhero, with the winning entry set to be turned into an animated film by local artist Flossie Waters.  The Young ACAN ‘Treasure Not Trash’ Conference was a resounding success, leaving a positive impact on both students and teachers as well as a shared commitment to a greener future. The knowledge gained and enthusiasm shown by these young trash-fighting superheroes will be shared with their peers in their schools, making a lasting impact on their communities. By empowering young people, we can harness their energy, creativity and commitment to drive transformative change and secure a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Lucy Henderson from Medstead created a short (3 minute) film of the conference.  It is a lovely souvenir of the event and a great example of community action and collaboration.

Here it is. Enjoy!