Pupils take to the stage in Manchester to Showcase their creative climate action ideas

Upcycled prom dresses, portable air purifiers, micro hydro electric generators and eco-awareness video games were among the innovative green ideas presented by pupils at the North West Young Green Briton Challenge regional showcase last Friday. 

Teams from 20 schools presented their ideas to tackle climate change, competing to be crowned the Young Green Briton Challenge winners of 2026 at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Students and guests at the showcase event, joined by keynote speakers Afzal Khan MP and Liz Price MBE

A diverse judging panel of local experts and leaders faced the incredibly tough task of evaluating video submissions, physical showcases, and live pitches to select the projects worthy of investment and mentorship. 

After much deliberation, The Derby High School, Upper Batley High School and Sale Grammar School were crowned the winners.

YGBC Judges Laura Dempsey, Ben Ives, Sapphire Ofei-Anakwa, Francies Hesketh and Hannah Fitzpatrick listening to student pitches and visiting showcase stalls

The team from The Derby High School in Bury developed The Donation Station, a student-led food rescue project, simultaneously tackling food waste and food poverty. Meanwhile Pollution into Solution from Upper Batley High School have prototyped an innovative circular economy idea, turning rice husks into wood, tackling deforestation. And at Sale Grammar School Sprout a Change have built a CO2 sucking moss mural, using recycled materials, in their concrete playground. All three teams will receive £500 investment to put their ideas into action and have been invited to showcase their progress at the Houses of Parliament in London in Spring 2027.

The runners-up also impressed the judges with their creativity:

• EcoValis from Falinge Park High School in Rochdale prototyped an app for children which gamifies litter collection.  

• Team OAW from Oasis Academy Wintringham in Grimsby designed the TradR app and system to democratise access to fashion and tackle textile waste

• The Green Pioneers from Pioneer House High School in Wythenshawe have put hydroponics into action to grow affordable leafy greens for their community 

• Renewable Wheels from St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy in St Helen’s developed a USB charging device using a bike dynamo

The innovative projects were developed as part of the Young Green Briton Challenge, an exciting national initiative that empowers secondary school students to create entrepreneurial, eco-friendly solutions for their local communities. In this region alone, the challenge has engaged over 5,000 students this year through educational workshops and Dragons' Den-style pitching sessions.

Now in its fourth year, the Young Green Briton Challenge enables young people aged 11 to 16 to design, present, and implement innovative ideas for local climate action. Led nationally by Social Innovation for All CIC and GenEarth CIC, the program is delivered in the North West by EcoVida Routes. Across the country, the initiative has supported over 27,000 young people to date.

YGBC is supported by a fantastic network of regional and national partners, including Avanti West Coast and Cubico Sustainable Investments in the North West, with national partners including the Green Britain Foundation, Ecotricity, and Trainline. Supporters of YGBC can also contribute to the current crowdfunding campaign, which will help schools in Liverpool and Manchester next year. Every pound will be matched by Aviva. 

Peter Rowe, of Cubico Sustainable Investments, said: “It was inspiring to see the passion, creativity and optimism shown by students at the North West final of the Young Green Briton Challenge. Their ideas and enthusiasm were a powerful reminder that the next generation is ready to step up and help tackle the climate challenge. We are proud to support Falinge Park High School and The Derby High School and congratulate both schools on their outstanding achievements. Programmes like the Young Green Briton Challenge play an important role in empowering young people and giving them the confidence to turn their ideas into action.”

Cubico team members with students and teachers from Falinge Park High School and the Derby High School.

Neil Tetlow of Ecotricity Business said: “It was wonderful to see all the young pupils who have made such an effort to come up with ideas to help their local environment, and then follow them through to the final stage. Much respect to all those who had the daunting task of presenting to the many people watching; it was great to see such passion and belief in what they were doing. I certainly learned a few things on the day and it is a pleasure for Ecotricity Business to have a long standing relationship with the YGBC.”

Ecotricity team members with students from Batley Multi Academy Trust schools

Kat Crisp, Co-Founder of the Young Green Briton Challenge, said: “We have been delighted by the support of so many amazing schools and partners across the North West, enabling us to meet the incredible demand from local schools and grow our footprint in the region. This showcase was a fantastic opportunity for students to proudly share the amazing projects they’ve developed to address real-world sustainability issues. Every single participant should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.”

For more information about how to get involved (as a school, partner or volunteer) with YGBC please contact us on info@ygbc.uk.