Eco Youth Club: How young people in Middlesbrough are thriving outdoors

Tucked in the centre of Middlesbrough, Boro Doughnut have begun an initiative called ‘The Saturday Eco Youth Club’ offering an experience where young people can take part in a series of Eco Club workshops and outdoor activities, aimed at developing their practical and gardening skills, appreciation for nature, and community spirit.  

Access to nature and outdoor play is proven to be an integral part of a child's upbringing, linking to reduced anxiety, improved concentration and better educational outcomes. However many children in the UK are subject to a ‘postcode lottery’. 

Children in Middlesbrough face this acutely. In 2025 the town was found to have the highest degree of deprived neighbourhoods for income and education, meanwhile access to nature in many of its neighbourhoods is limited. An analysis from last month showed that in one area of Middlesbrough, just 1% of people were within a fifteen minute walk of nature, and in another only 16%. 

To answer this problem, The Eco Youth Club, funded by Teesside University and in partnership with the Institute For Collective Place Leadership, is taking place for 12 weeks and is packed full of activities aimed at improving local children’s exposure to nature. From creative workshops such as willow weaving, woodwork, embroidery and upcycling, to hands-on practical skills in gardening, repairing, and recycling. 

During the session, Emi Imai, one of Boro Doughnut members, uses an old Celtic rune (called a Rekalibrator) to outline the principles of permaculture to the children: Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share. Emi asks the young eco rangers how they can give back to nature, their community, and others - and their answers range from litter picking, checking in on a friend, or even helping with the dishes at home. ”It is wonderful to hear from the children how much they enjoy working in the garden, observing the seeds that they planted grow and noticing the subtle changes in seasons” Emi told me. 

The sessions also aim to tackle bigger environmental questions, from plastic pollution, to renewable energy, asking the children to contribute their ideas on how they’d improve their communities' green spaces and even having them organise a community environmental event. 

As younger generations grow up in an increasingly online and isolating world, the aim is to help them recognise the benefits of being involved in nature and their community - not only is it good for their physical health, but it also acts as a distraction and barrier against overly indulgent screentime, with exposure to nature proven to decrease phone usage. 

That being said, the sessions don’t shy away from fostering practical and positive digital skills, such as advising the eco-rangers to develop social media newsletters and campaigns about sustainability. Alyssia, who is fourteen, has done exactly this, putting her own graphic design passion and skills to good use by developing the garden's logo, and she is now on a drive to recruit her friends to help out in the garden too. 'I used to spend way more time indoors, but now I can't get enough of being outside' she proclaimed.

However, Alyssia voiced her concern that many her age do spend an increasing amount of time indoors using technology. While the garden's turnout with younger children is a success, teenagers are the biggest challenge… Teenagers in particular suffer from a lack of spaces to hang out, where they can socialise, be themselves, and enjoy the outdoors. Stuck not being able to access pubs and cafes due to financial or legal barriers, while also feeling too old for playgrounds, the task becomes creating open areas that appeal to older adolescents. This is where skate parks, football fields, and wide-open spaces come into play, something that will require more investment from local councils and government.

Regardless, Boro Doughnut are making headway in engaging children, fostering a sense of outdoor enjoyment and shared responsibility in them. Emi is even hoping the learning and reflections from the programme may help inform future local community planning and environmental initiatives throughout Middlesbrough. 

This initiative is just one part of a growing trend nationwide to bring children closer to nature, and to recognise the many benefits of doing so - from improved learning, to time away from screens. Moreover, with the severe decline of Britain’s youth clubs, which used to play a pivotal role in helping children from deprived areas find community and confidence, green initiatives like the Eco-Rangers in Middlesbrough are more vital than ever. 

"We are grateful that the Middlesbrough Council has given us further funding to continue our Saturday Eco Youth Club for a further 12 weeks as part of the Middlesbrough Youth Mutual Community Seed Funding. By then, we hope we can show how beneficial the club is for the young people, the community, and nature itself, resulting in further funding to sustain this activity as a long term established youth group” Emi said. 

The Saturday Eco Youth Club runs every Saturday and is open to children aged 8-16. 

The Summer Event at the Edible Forest Garden is planned on Saturday 18th July 1pm so join in on the fun! 

Meanwhile as the season develops, Edible Forest Garden sessions are available every week. You can visit each Mondays 11-1pm and Thursdays 10-1pm.