Free winter education programme aims to reconnect 40,000 UK children with nature and songbird conservation.

SongBird Survival is launching the 2025-2026 Ruby Robin Award, a free educational initiative inspiring children across the UK to protect songbirds through hands-on activities. The charity is inviting schools and families across the UK to sign up and help children discover the joy of protecting our songbirds.

With over half of all UK songbird species under threat - and 82% of children wanting to do more to help wildlife - the Ruby Robin Award provides children  with fun, accessible activities, such as creating bird feeders and worm charming, giving young people the opportunity to reconnect with nature  at a time when garden birds need our help most.

Following last year’s success, when 28,240 children participated and 35% completed the award, SongBird Survival has a target of 40,000 sign-ups, with 38% earning their certificate and badge.

Sue Morgan, Chief Executive of SongBird Survival said:  

"Young people want to protect wildlife but often lack the opportunities to act. We've seen first-hand how this award inspires children to connect with the natural world right outside their windows. Thanks to our funders who’ve made this year’s Ruby Robin Award possible: including Naturesave Trust, PlanAid and Britford Bridge Trust. Their donations enable us to deliver the Ruby Robin Award free of charge to thousands of children across the UK. Our goal is to make conservation education something all UK children can access and enjoy for free."

To sign up for the Ruby Robin Award or find out more, visit www.rubyrobin.uk/award.  

Notes to Editors:

• The following funders have supported this year’s Ruby Robin Award:  The Grocers' Charity, Britford Bridge Trust, PlanAid, Naturesave Trust, D C Moncrieff Charitable Trust, The Paul Bassham Charitable Trust.
• Polling was conducted by Panelbase on behalf of SongBird Survival in 2023. The total sample size was 612 children aged 5 to 11 across the UK.
• Information on why songbirds need help in winter, and how to help, can be found at: https://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns/national-robin-day/national-robin-day  
• Contact Tracey Spensley at pr@songbird-survival.org.uk for more information.  
• SongBird Survival is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to halting and reversing the alarming population decline of songbirds. It does this by supporting research carried out by experts at top universities and conservation organisations in the UK into the cause of the decline, and the solutions. More information is available at: https://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/