Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice
Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice invites imaginative, creative explorations in non-classroom settings. Our climate action is rooted in nature connection and social justice.
Climate justice is an approach to climate action that focuses on the unequal impacts of climate change on people and communities who are marginalised or vulnerable. In Dudley our most vulnerable communities are at high risk from climate change. We also have natural habitats listed as being at high risk and very high risk from climate change. Learning and action is designed to respond to these risks.
We believe our local communities are among those who know the streets, neighbourhoods, towns, parks, ponds and canals of Dudley borough best. We also believe that local people have an abundance of ideas, skills, and knowledge. Exactly the kind of imagination, know-how and wisdom that is needed to help heal our vulnerable natural habitats. A key idea behind the school is to celebrate and help share and spread the locally relevant, practical knowledge that people in Dudley Borough already have.
Everyone is a teacher, everyone is a learner.
The starting point is curiosity.
Learning takes place in unexpected and inspiring places and spaces.
Much of the learning in Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice is project-based and experiential, it involves active exploration of real world challenges and issues to develop deeper knowledge and produce new interventions or responses.
The School ‘curriculum’ is ever-emerging and gradually developing. There are invitations to co-create school activities or to start your own climate action projects. Local people can take part in one off learning sessions or join learning groups which come together in weekly, monthly or seasonal rhythms. Or pop along to school exhibitions, showcases and film screenings.
See our Autumn Term Co-creation page to see what you can help shape or take part in. You can sign up to the Dudley Creates newsletter for updates (at the bottom of the page).
Ongoing community-led collective enquiries and action
A collective enquiry is a process of building shared knowledge. Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice supports many and varied kinds of collective enquiries involving hands on making, doing and creating, and simply observation and being . They also generate learning practices and patterns which inform how the School should evolve.
Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice has been developed through Dudley Creates: a 100 year cultural strategy in action for Dudley borough. Dudley Creates is rooted in the work of a collective of local creatives, designers and doers. They have been quietly experimenting with ways that people in Dudley can connect with nature, take action in creative ways, and learn together. Some of these experiments sprouted in the corner of community gardens in Brierley Hill. Others flowed from explorations between the benches and takeaways, along the alleyways and in the church yards of Dudley High Street. Some have been developed into three year activities at the heart of Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice, and will involve over 300 local people between spring 2024 and winter 2026. New ideas and activities are emerging as local people develop climate action projects through Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice. Below are projects initiated between 2022 and 2024 which contribute learning and knowledge through the School.
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Bringing the Stour to Life
Local resident and off-road runner Colin had an idea which he developed through Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice project design sessions in spring 2024. He is now working with others to create an identified 'Stour Way' and work towards people adopting and caring for all 30 miles of the River Stour in the parts they live or work.
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Stories of Place
Stories of Place draws on collage, photos, stories, poetry, sounds, maps, research from the past, present and imagined futures of Dudley High Street. Inspired by these stories, we prototype experiments together to bring us closer to futures where we can flourish as part of our planet.
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Exploring the Edges
Nature connection and exploration of edges. Collaborations with local groups led by and supporting people who may be marginalised as a result of discrimination. In 2024 collaborations have taken place with: The Bicycle Adventure Club, Fringe Dwellers and Mom’s Mindful Hub.
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Getting into Hot Water
Getting into Hot Water is a long term social art project exploring water and climate in Dudley with aim to question the habitual ways by which we know water, stimulate dialogue regarding our relationship with water, engender a sense of curiosity and wonder, and create a change in ourselves.
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Tending Place, People and Planet
Tending Place, People and Planet is a learning, doing and creating journey taking place in the Ekho Wellbeing Garden. The project is based around permaculture principles and growing in a regenerative way. (Illustration credit: KT Shepherd)
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Reclaiming Our Roots
This project weaves connections between art, community and nature. Each session will be an invitation to meet a chosen plant ally and learn about their virtues. Deeper connection will be guided through activities like tea tasting, crafting folk medicine, sharing our personal plant stories and collaborative creativity.
You’re warmly invited
Below are upcoming sessions and activities hosted by Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice which you can sign up for. All activities are free.
