Cruelty Free Living
Issue 5: August-October 1999

Local Environmental Action Projects 21 - one year on!

LEAP 21 has been in action for almost year now! LEAP 21 is a National Lotterys Charities Board funded project. The project aims to provide more people with the opportunity to become actively involved in LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION and to use the Duke of Edinburgh's Award as a structure and added focus for individual groups. Since it's creation in July '98 over four hundred individuals have benefited, including nearly three hundred young people.

LEAP 21 has assisted eleven new Duke of Edinburgh Award groups, most with an environmental focus to get up and running. A further sixteen possible groups are in the development pipeline. The young people have been involved in a variety of environmental activities including woodland work, school garden projects, dyking, participation in the John Muir Award and Green Team residentials.

LEAP 21 has supported the leaders running the groups by providing training opportunities. These have included tree planting with Edinburgh Urban Forest Programme, an environmental games and activity course, Award induction training, safety seminars, BASP First Aid, BELA and Fieldstart courses. Many more of the training events for this summer and autumn are advertised in the new Outdoor Diary' 99. Please contact the LEAP 21 office for a copy!

There are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in local environmental action. Perhaps you are or know of a group of young people in Edinburgh or the Lothians who would like to get involved in something connected with the environment? This action could allow participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award - the country's largest youth Award which offers an individual challenge and personal development programme. Interested? - then contact LEAP 21 today. Alternatively you could become involved as a leader of environmental action and/or the Award for people aged 14-25. Training opportunities, environmental information and materials are available.

Please contact:

Claire Carpenter
LEAP 21 Project Co-ordinator
23 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3BH
Tel: 0131 529 7755