Post by Richard Turner

It’s been a week since our first Solar for Schools event in Westminster, and I wanted to share some reflections.   With over 20 MPs attending, including Angela Rayner and Jess Phillips, it's clear there’s strong cross-party support for sustainability initiatives in schools. Since the event, we’ve been engaging with MPs to organise site visits and address local legal challenges, using their relationships with councils to unblock projects and push forward the sustainability initiatives schools are already committed to.   The feedback from students, teachers, and staff has been overwhelmingly positive, with one teacher calling it a “life-changing” experience. This has inspired us to think bigger for the future.   Thank you to everyone who made this event a success — this would not have been possible without strong collaboration. A particular thanks to our sponsors Triodos Bank, National Grid, and The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) for helping us bring this event to life. Special thanks to Eleanor Patey, Tom B. from National Grid team, and Ben Howlett and Gabby Rapp from Chamber UK.   By connecting students with local MPs, we help them see the bigger picture — how local actions tie into broader change. We’re excited to bring lessons of democracy and advocacy into classrooms, empowering students to understand sustainability and drive meaningful action. Linking them with MPs and potential employers opens up opportunities for students to engage with their communities and become leaders of positive change.   If you are an MP or councillor interested in supporting schools in your area, please reach out. We would love to collaborate and help bring these initiatives to your community.