A new programme launched this week will award young business people with funding to set up digital projects that help the environment.
The Environment Now is a scheme looking for 17 to 24 year olds with project ideas that use technology to solve environmental problems.
Run by National Youth Agency (NYA), they believe technology makes it easier for people to understand how their actions can impact the environment.
Lydia Allen, Partnership and Sustainability Coordinator at the NYA, said: “Some people have to see the effects of climate change to believe them, so we could use technology like virtual reality to show them.”
With 50 projects potentially receiving £10,000, the scheme could cost up to half a million pounds.
The Environment Now is being funded by O2 and the National Lottery, as part of the Our Bright Future programme, and it is being managed by the NYA.
Heather Wildsmith, Young People’s Coordinator at the National Youth Agency said: “It’s important to give young people opportunities where other companies might overlook them.
“Young people have grown up with technology, so they have the potential to come up with some really innovative ideas.”
The programme will fund 50 of the best ideas that encourage people to be more energy efficient and throw away less waste.
The Environment Now will be holding ‘thinkspiration’ workshops at universities in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Keele.
If you are interested, you can visit O2 Think Big’s website for more information.