YESfest (Youth Eco Summits with a FESTival vibe) was founded in 2023 by Alex Bell and Jim Dees with a clear mission: to empower and inspire children aged 8-10 to become catalysts for change in the face of the climate emergency.
Our founders, Alex Bell, a former headteacher and designer of award-winning coaching programs for school leaders, and Jim Dees, headteacher at West Lodge Primary School, came together to co-design, co-curate, co-produce, and co-host the inaugural YESfest Harrow in September 2023.
The event brought together 12 schools, each with six delegates, and featured a live link to the Eden Project in Cornwall and sessions led by nationally recognized facilitators.
Building on the success of YESfest Harrow, we have expanded our team, with Rachel Tomlinson, Headteacher of Barrowford Primary in Pendle, Lancashire, and Gillian Taylor, Project Director of Harwes Farm CIC, joining forces to develop YESfest Pendle.
23rd May 2024
YESfest Harrow - at Harrow School with 17 schools from Harrow, other London boroughs and across the country. A live link to the biomes of the Eden Project, Cornwall and sessions led by young people via video link from the United Nations in New York and by YESfest youth delegates.
6th & 7th June 2024
YESfest Pendle - at Harwes Farm CIC in Lancashire with 20 schools and community youth groups attending and camping overnight. A live link to the biomes of the Eden Project, Cornwall. Sessions led by young facilitators locally; via video link from the United Nations in New York and youth groups in India.
26th & 27th September 2024
YESfest Eden - at the Eden Project in Cornwall with 10 pilot schools sleeping overnight next to the biomes. Live video links and workshops led by youth groups around the world as well as in-person tours and workshops.
16th May 2025
YESfest New York - at East Meadow, Central Park in collaboration with La Scuola d'Italia New York.