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IMBY Powers Up!

Investment project code: 37

Estimated Price

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Description

Meet IMBY. He’s not from around here – he’s from another galaxy! IMBY was flying in his spaceship when it ran out of energy and crash landed on Earth. It’s down to the kids of Edinburgh to teach IMBY about our community and the elements that fuel it, so he can power his spaceship.

Through a series of hands-on activities, IMBY Powers Up! inspires primary 5 to 7 pupils to learn about their energy supply, create a vision of a sustainable Edinburgh, and have their say in a better future. Building on our previous successes, and driven by a team of specialists, our project will reach over 100 primary school pupils across Edinburgh, in five or more schools.

IMBY Powers Up! is made of four lessons:

Lesson 1 – IMBY Explores Your Community

Students meet IMBY through an animated video. A planning professional visits the classroom to discuss what different communities look like and environmental challenges they face - we call this “placemaking”. Students explore Edinburgh aerially, with a focus on where they live.

Lesson 2 – IMBY Links Land and Energy Usage

Students discuss various forms of renewable and non-renewable energy and refer to the aerial community map to identify links between land and energy usage. Students consider the ways in which our energy usage has changed the landscape over the years with an art project. They then examine the impacts of climate change in a few different communities.

Lesson 3 – IMBY Discovers Renewable Energy

Students think about how our energy usage has changed the landscape over the years and add their new discoveries to their art project. Students interact with IMBY to explain key issues related to the use of renewable energy and analyse how these issues affect their local community.

Lesson 4 – IMBY Gets Energised

Students relate valued parts of their community to energy usage. They consider how civil engagement impacts the planning process as it relates to energy forms and consumption.

Where does the name IMBY come from?

In 2011 to 2016, PAS delivered a successful national project called IMBY, taking the N out of NIMBY to make “In My Back Yard”. IMBY is a cartoon alien who arrived on earth and wanted to learn about why our local areas look the way they do. Through our project, over 500 primary school pupils engaged in active citizenship by focusing on relevant issues such as mobile phone masts, community gardens, shops and waste/recycling.

This project is our sequel, inspiring primary pupils to learn about their energy supply, create a vision of a sustainable Edinburgh fuelled by renewables, and have their say in a better future.

Proposed on behalf of: PAS is an educational charity and social enterprise. We help people to shape the future of their place by engaging with the planning system, in an open and inclusive way. Through projects, training and our advice service, we support individuals and communities to become active citizens. We have a strong track record of helping communities tackle climate change, e.g. Sustaining Choices which assists communities across Scotland to develop Sustainable and Active Travel Action Plans. We’re keen on supporting seldom-heard groups who may be marginalised from decision-making processes, such as young people. In our latest success, #FocusOnFife, we consulted with 200 young people on their thoughts about where they live. Their suggestions were provided to Fife Council to feed into the development of their Local Development Plan. Founded 30 years ago, our team currently comprises nine Edinburgh-based staff and over 400 volunteers who are professionals across the built environment sector.

• Community Leadership and Learning