npower Reveal Only One in Five Young Brits Can Tie a Knot and Half Can't Climb Trees
Released on: March 06, 2012, 1:25 am
Author:
Kelly Brown
Industry:
Energy
npower has today unveiled research, showing that modern day
youngsters are disconnected from the great outdoors, with many unable
to build a camp fire (78%), put up a tent (79%) or even tie their shoe
laces (45%). When asked if they cared about the environment, more than
a third (37%) said no and, incredibly, half of those (52%) said that
it's because "in the future we’ll be able to live in space".
The figures show that while young people are able to search for clips on YouTube
(37%) they’d struggle to search for the local post office by reading a map (81%),
and while they may be able to work a DVD player (67%), a huge 87% said they wouldn’t
know how to repair a bicycle puncture.
The research indicates that today’s youths have lost their sense of adventure and
lack skills which older generations take for granted. Nine out of ten youngsters
(91%) are unable to recognise different types of butterfly and 43% cannot remember
seeing the stars in the last month.
The lack of interest in the great outdoors is a worry for many parents, with more
than seven in ten (77%) saying their child spends too much time watching TV or
playing video games.
Survival expert and founder of Woodlore, Ray Mears, comments: "The latest figures
are really shocking and I can’t believe our young people are so ill-equipped when it
comes to practical skills.
"When I was growing up, I was told 'You don’t need equipment, you need knowledge
to survive in the wild' and this is something that I truly believe. Simple skills
like putting up a tent can teach you important lessons that can’t be learnt without
doing them yourself. You learn how to work in a team and communicate with your
peers; how to work under pressure and use logic and, most importantly, how to look
after yourself and know your strengths."
In response to these startling figures, npower will today announce the start of
Climate Cops SOS, an educational programme which looks for Britain’s greenest young
people by working with schools across the country. Working with survival expert Ray
Mears, npower hopes to inject passion for the great outdoors back into the hearts of
the nation’s youths. To enter the competition, they will have to devise and
implement a group activity which celebrates adventure and encourages their fellow
peers to go outside and enjoy the great outdoors. 100 winning students will be
treated with a trip to the Lake District where they will have a survival master
class with Ray himself.
To enter npower’s Climate Cops SOS, children
must be aged 11 to 13. Entries should come through their school and they will need
to show that they have devised and implemented a group activity, which celebrates
adventure and encourages their peers to go outside and enjoy the great outdoors.
For more information visit www.npower.com/climatecopssos
-ENDS-
npower is one of the UK's largest gas and electricity suppliers and
has 6.6 million customer accounts across the UK.
npower has been awarded platinum status in Business in the Community's CR Index and
is one of twenty-nine companies to have achieved the CommunityMark since its launch.
All CommunityMark achievers have been recognised for demonstrating excellence in
their holistic and strategic approach to community investment. npower prides itself
on its green energy
initiatives, and every year convinces many customers to switch energy accounts from
their current providers.
PR Contact:
Kelly Brown
npower
Bridgwater Road
Worcester
WR4 9FP
0845 070 2807
www.npower.com
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