Can a trail designed by local children inspire hundreds more families to explore, read and care for the world around them?
This summer, families across North East Lincolnshire are invited to become part of Our Caring Sun – a free family adventure created by local children, for local children. VANEL and the Green Influencers programme are leading the initiative.
From Monday 10th August until Thursday 27th August, families can collect a Discovery Trail sheet from Cleethorpes Library before setting off on an exciting journey around the seafront to uncover hidden clues, solve a mystery phrase, explore the Our Caring Sun Touring Exhibition and collect a FREE children’s book (one per child while stocks last).
But this is much more than a holiday activity. Every clue discovered, every Care Theme vote and every family taking part is helping shape the future of the project.
Read on and also read this Facebook page with lots of the details of the event.
A project created by children, for the community.
Our Caring Sun has been developed by Green Influencers VANEL as part of Our Future Starts Here, North East Lincolnshire’s Climate Action Fund programme. The programme helps children, young people and families discover that caring for our environment also means caring for people, places and each other.
Throughout the year, Green Influencers has worked alongside hundreds of local children, young people, families, schools and community groups, exploring one simple but powerful question:
“What do you care about?”
The answers inspired nine Care Themes, including People, Nature, Animals, Feelings, Our Future and Our Earth, which have become the heart of the Our Caring Sun campaign.
Rather than simply learning about the environment, children have been encouraged to become creators, decision-makers and community leaders—showing that even the smallest Care Action can make a positive difference.
From Grimsby Minster to Cleethorpes
The campaign was officially launched at Grimsby Minster during the internationally acclaimed Helios installation, brought to Grimsby by Culture House as part of the Our Future Starts Here programme.
Hundreds of visitors helped create the exhibition through interactive installations including the Our Caring Sun, Care Cloud and Nourishing Rain, sharing what they care about and the actions they wanted to take to create a kinder, greener future.
Since then, the exhibition has continued its journey through schools and communities, including Littlecoates Primary Academy, where children proudly showcased the exhibition as part of their summer celebrations.
Now the exhibition begins the next stage of its journey at Cleethorpes Library throughout the summer holidays.
Designed by children
The Our Caring Sun Discovery Trail has its own special story.
It was designed by children from the Littlecoates Primary Academy Green Influencers After School Group, who wanted to encourage families to spend more time together, enjoy reading and explore their local community.
What started as one group’s idea has already grown into a summer activity enjoyed by hundreds of children.
Even the free books have been made possible by local children.
Earlier this year, Little Green Influencers children (aged 2 to 5 years – based at the Family Hubs) completed their own shared Usborne Sponsored Read, raising almost £500 so that every child completing the Discovery Trail could take home a free book. Their aim was simple—to help more children discover the joy of reading and make sure every family could enjoy the trail for FREE.
Already this summer:
• More than 200 children have completed the Discovery Trail.
• Over 1,000 votes have been cast to help choose the Our Caring Sun Care Theme for 2027, giving children and families a genuine voice in shaping next year’s community project.
Follow the clues around Cleethorpes
Families can discover clues at:
• Cleethorpes Library
• Think Bubbles
• Julie’s Ice Cream Parlour
• Oliver’s Eatery (Jonny’s Donuts)
• Jade’s Ice Cream Parlour
• Cleethorpes Tourist Information Centre
• Papa’s Fish & Chips
• Darracotte’s Coffee Shop
• CARE Charity Shop
• The Fish Dock Fryer
Simply collect your trail sheet from Cleethorpes Library, follow the clues around the town, solve the mystery phrase and return to the library to claim your free children’s book.
Families can also explore the Our Caring Sun Touring Exhibition and vote for what they think Our Caring Sun should care about in 2027, helping shape next year’s campaign.
Trail Dates
Monday 10th August – Thursday 27th August
Cleethorpes Library Opening Hours
Monday – Thursday: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Saturday: 9.00am – 1.00pm
Closed: Friday and Sunday
The Discovery Trail is available during normal library opening hours.
Thank You
Green Influencers would like to extend a huge thank you to Cleethorpes Library for hosting both the touring exhibition and Discovery Trail throughout the summer holidays.
Special thanks also go to every local business that immediately said “yes” to becoming part of the trail. Their support has transformed ideas into a community-wide family adventure, encouraging visitors to explore the town while supporting local businesses.
Together they are helping show that small acts of care really can make a big difference.
Whether you’re looking for a free family day out, somewhere new to explore during the holidays or simply a chance to make memories together, Our Caring Sun promises adventure, creativity, conversation and discovery.
Follow the clues.
Discover the artwork.
Choose next year’s Care Theme.
Take home a book.
Most importantly, discover how what we care for today shapes tomorrow.
If you would like to host the next stage of Our Caring Sun Touring Exhibition please contact our Green Influencers Team – office@vanel.org.uk
Our Caring Sun Touring Exhibition & Discovery Trail
Venue: Cleethorpes Library and participating town centre businesses
Dates: Monday 10th August – Thursday 27th August
Admission: FREE
Suitable for families of all ages
One FREE children’s book per child while stocks last.
“What we care for today shapes tomorrow… Let’s create a greener future together! Our Future Starts Here.”
Further information
About Green Influencers VANEL
Green Influencers VANEL is part of Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire (VANEL) and delivers environmental education, volunteering and community action projects for children, young people and families across North East Lincolnshire.
Working from early years through to young adulthood, Green Influencers helps participants build practical green skills, develop a stronger connection with nature and discover how small acts of care can make a positive difference to people, places and the environment.
Through family sessions, school programmes, volunteering opportunities, community events and creative campaigns, Green Influencers empowers local people to become active Green Influencers within their own communities.
www.vanel.org.uk/greeninfluencers
About Our Future Starts Here
Our Future Starts Here is North East Lincolnshire’s Climate Action Fund programme, made possible with funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund.
The programme brings together local organisations, schools, community groups and residents to inspire climate action through creativity, learning and community participation, helping local people shape a greener, healthier future for North East Lincolnshire.
The programme is delivered through a partnership of organisations including:
• Culture House
• Green Influencers Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire (VANEL)
• Hammond House
• Franklin Sixth Form College
• Hull University
Together, the partnership is working with communities across North East Lincolnshire to demonstrate that local people can play a vital role in creating positive environmental change.
About The National Lottery Community Fund
Our Future Starts Here is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund.
The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest non-statutory community funder in the UK – community is at the heart of our purpose, vision and name. We support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable, and that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.
We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with the Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.
As well as responding to what communities tell us is important to them, our funding is focused on four key missions, supporting communities to:
1. Come together
- Be environmentally sustainable
- Help children and young people thrive
- Enable people to live healthier lives.
Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we distribute around £500 million a year through 10,000+ grants and plan to invest over £4bn of funding into communities by 2030. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £47 billion has been raised, and more than 670,000 individual grants have been made across the UK – the equivalent of around 240 National Lottery grants in every UK postcode district.
