Over the weekend, Richmond parents and kids gathered at Richmond Library Annexe with climate activist group Parents For Future (PFF) West London to support the Warm This Winter UK campaign that demands the government acts now to help people struggling with fuel poverty, and to ensure the UK access to clean, affordable energy in the long term.

By coming together, they demanded emergency support and a long-term plan to lower energy bills for good. Specifically they asked for: 1) the provision of more support this winter for the fifth of households that are already unable to afford to heat their house adequately; 2) funding for a national insulation programme to combat that the fact that the UK has some of the most leaky homes in Europe; 3) an expansion of cheaper renewable energy in particular the amount of wind and solar being developed; and 4) to stop locking us into expensive energy by opening new oil and gas fields, end new licensing rounds, and stop subsidising new drilling with public money. 

The event coincided with the Day of Action by the Warm this Winter campaign, of which Parents for Future is a coalition member, and was part of UK wide events including those Glasgow, Leicester, Brighton and Hove, Hemel Hempstead, Surrey, Bermondsey, Stroud, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, and many more.

The event at Richmond Library was a fun family-friendly event which included festive crafting, making mini wind turbines and roses (in support of the Stop Rosebank campaign), colouring and writing Christmas cards to the PM, MPs and other local representatives, a dress-up corner for kids to wrap up warm and snuggly for the winter, a climate and nature themed reading corner and a snack corner. In addition parents and kids made a pop-up wind farm to raise awareness for cheap clean homegrown renewable energy alternatives which are now more than nine times cheaper than gas. By holding their wind turbines up high and tall they showed local MPs, councillors and the community that they literally had the "power in their hands"!

Member of Parents for Future UK, Susan O'Leary, who helped organise the event said:

We hear from parents all the time that they feel stifled and powerless because they don't feel they can make a difference and yet their heart is breaking when contemplating the future that faces their children if immediate action is not taken with regards to the climate crises. By joining here today we hope to enable parents to be part of the change – be parents for a future – and be able to look back and tell their children, they did everything they could.

Local residents and parents commented on the event as follows:

"I absolutely loved it - ticked so many boxes. The event was perfectly organised making a fun and educational morning for all ages including my 6 and 11 year old. We were able to learn more about the climate crisis, take action writing letters to our MPs and have lots of fun at the same time " – Julie P.

"We had a great time at this fun-filled event for children, with crafts, dressing up and a reading corner that was a big hit with my toddler. It was also inspiring for me to meet with others who are deeply concerned about the climate crisis, and are committed to make change happen." - Liza McAlonan.

" We went along to the 'Warm this Winter' event on Saturday and it was fantastic, the kids had a brilliant time with the climate-themed activities and it was a great way engage in climate issues in a positive and fun way " – Will McCarthy.

In complete agreement, PFF West London know that as parents, we love our kids, and we'll move MOUNTAINS to protect them. We know how dangerous climate change will be to their young lives. They believe that by acting together and sharing, it helps in dealing with the anxiety that comes with facing up to the climate crisis.  It doesn't matter if you've never been involved in climate action before. Supporting events such as this is a fun, easy and hugely accessible way to get started with campaigning for a better future for our kids.