Over the past year, Knowle West Media Centre and WeCanMake have been working with the University of Bristol’s Transforming Homes research team to explore a big question: how can we empower young people with the skills and confidence to shape a greener housing future?
To help answer it, we co‑designed a brand‑new series of school retrofit workshops, using our practice of creative learning, hands‑on making, and real‑world problem‑solving to explore the principles of retrofit.
The pilot sessions were delivered with Level 1–3 Construction students at City of Bristol College and the results were inspiring.
Why Retrofit? Why Young People?
Retrofit is the process of improving existing buildings to increase energy efficiency and comfort, typically involving insulation, ventilation, and low-carbon heating upgrades. Here in Knowle West, WeCanMake specialises in community-led, people-powered retrofitting, focusing on using sustainable materials and local knowledge to transform homes. Explore more in our Retrofit zines here.
Retrofitting homes is essential if the UK is going to meet its net‑zero goals. But across the country, there’s a growing skills gap in construction and green technologies. Many young people simply don’t see the retrofit sector as a place for creative, meaningful work.
Through this project we wanted to:
- Spark curiosity about sustainable design
- Introduce bio‑based and low‑carbon construction materials
- Highlight the role of communities in shaping where they live
- Open up clear, accessible pathways into green career
Most importantly, we wanted young people to feel that climate action is something they can lead, not just learn about.
What We Made Together
Over five months, KWMC and the University of Bristol worked together to co‑create four one‑hour workshop sessions. Each session combined practical making, group challenges, and playful learning.
The long-term goal of this research is to create plans and materials for any school or community group in the UK to reuse them in their own spaces. In the meantime, we’ve attached our session plans below as open-access resources which you are welcome to use and adapt. Please get in touch with us (school@kwmc.org.uk) with any feedback, we’d love to hear from you.
Session 1: Human Sensing & Energy Awareness
Students mapped their own homes, explored where heat is gained or lost, and used thermal imaging cameras to test different insulation materials. Novel materials like mycelium and hemp sparked lively conversations about what the homes of the future might look like.
Session 2: Building Fabric & Retrofit Budget Game
Working in teams, students built 3D paper houses, then took on specialist retrofit roles using a £5k “budget” to upgrade the homes. They balanced sustainability, cost and energy efficiency — discovering the trade‑offs real retrofit teams face.
Session 3: Re‑Designing a Local Street
Zooming out from individual homes to the neighbourhood, groups redesigned a local Bristol street to improve biodiversity, safety, sustainability and community life. Ideas ranged from cycle paths and green corridors to dog cafés and community workshop spaces.
Session 4: Retrofit Puzzle & Career Pathways
Students worked through our jigsaw‑style retrofit puzzle cards before exploring six PAS‑2035 retrofit career roles — interviewing each other to see which paths matched their interests. Retrofit Designer and Retrofit Coordinator emerged as the most popular roles.
What Students Told Us
Feedback from both students and tutors was overwhelmingly positive. Learners described the sessions as “engaging”, “hands‑on”, and “very well organised”. Many said they learnt new things about natural materials, sustainable construction, and how communities can shape retrofit projects.
Tutors highlighted how the activities helped students connect classroom learning with real‑world skills. Crucially, students also asked for more opportunities to explore careers and work experience in the retrofit sector. This aligns with one of the project’s wider ambitions: helping young people access green, meaningful employment in their own community.
What’s Next
As the Transforming Homes project continues, we’ll be expanding the reach of these workshops and sharing the open‑source resources more widely. We’re also exploring follow‑up opportunities so students can continue building confidence and skills in retrofit and sustainable construction.
This pilot has shown us that when young people are invited into the conversation, they don’t just participate, they lead with imagination, practicality, and real care for their communities.
We’re excited to keep supporting them as they shape Bristol’s green future.
Looking to run these sessions in your own space? Contact school@kwmc.org.uk to access further resources and gain more insight about delivering each session.