UK Youth for Nature - 5th May 2025
Welcome to our fortnightly update where we'll be sharing upcoming events, awesome campaigns to support, job and internship opportunities, news & what we've been up to. Check it out!
Events
Young Birders Walk (Ages 16–30) – Crystal Palace Park Trust
Location: Crystal Palace Park, London (meet at Crystal Palace Station Square)
Date: Saturday 10 May, 10am - 11:30am
A relaxed birdwatching walk for young people (16–30) keen to connect with nature. Led by fellow young naturalists Şeniz and Akash, you’ll explore Crystal Palace Park and look out for species like peregrine falcons, woodpeckers, owls, and firecrests. Şeniz and Akash are both legends, and Crystal Palace Park is stunning. Basically if you’re in South London you’ve gotta go. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
An Introduction to UK Policymaking – UK Youth for Nature
Location: Online
Date & Time: Tuesday, 6 May 2025 • 6:00–7:15pm (Zoom)
Curious how laws are made in the UK, or how to actually get your MP to listen? This free webinar breaks down the basics of policymaking and offers practical tips on how to make your voice heard. Ideal for anyone interested in activism, campaigning, or just understanding how change really happens. Hosted by former parliamentary staffer Mark Edwards.
Event: Youth Catalysing Movements Webinar
Date and time: Thursday 8 May, 6:30–7:30pm (Zoom)
The next instalment in our 2025 webinar programme spotlights inspiring youth-led environmental movements from across the UK. Speakers from Earth Minutes, Ancient Woodlands UK and GYBN UK will share how young people are building campaigns, shifting narratives and shaping policy. Chaired by our very own Robson Peisley!
Creating Convincing Climate and Nature Asks for Your Local Politicians – Hope for the Future
Location: Online
Date: Tuesday 13 May 2025, 6:00–7:00pm
Another webinar for those wanting to develop effective communication when contacting your MP or local councillor. This free interactive training will show you how to craft powerful, realistic asks that increase the chances of politicians taking meaningful action on climate and nature.
Youth Manifesto for Scotland’s Seas – Young Sea Changers Scotland
Location: Scotland (Online & In-person)
Deadline: Workshops run 31 May - 8 July 2025
A chance for 16-25 year-olds in Scotland to help shape marine policy ahead of the 2026 elections. Join a workshop or fill out a short survey to have your voice heard.
Opportunities
Summer Journalism Internship – Carbon Brief
Location: Hybrid (London and remote)
Salary & Hours: London Living Wage (£13.85/hour) plus £100 travel bursary, full time for 3 weeks
Deadline: 9am on 2 June 2025
Dates: 14 July to 1 August 2025
This one’s super exciting - Carbon Brief have been doing outstanding work in climate journalism for many years and are now offering a paid, three-week internship for students or recent grads. You’ll gain hands-on experience researching, writing and promoting your own article, while learning how a respected climate news team works behind the scenes. Ideal for early-career writers with a passion for climate change and clear communication.
Video Hackathon: Navigating the BBNJ Agreement - ECOP Programme
Location: Remote/Online
Deadline: Final submission by end of May (Workshops begin week of May 12)
This free online hackathon is for students, early-career ocean lovers, and activists keen to use storytelling to make a global impact. Join a creative team challenge to produce short videos that help push forward the UN’s High Seas treaty (the BBNJ Agreement). If successful, your work could be featured in campaigns reaching decision-makers worldwide.
Youth Ocean Action Fund – Young Sea Changers Scotland
Application Deadline: Spring round: 26 May 2025, 9am
Got an idea to protect the ocean but need funding to make it happen? The Youth Ocean Action Fund offers £25–£500 to support 16-25 year olds in Scotland working on marine advocacy projects or developing their ocean skills. Free online Q&A sessions, Wednesday 7 May, 6-7pm, and Tuesday 13 May, 1-2pm.
There are two types of grants:
Individual Grants (£25–£150): For personal development, such as training, equipment, travel, or volunteering.
Project/Campaign Grants (£100–£500): For youth-led campaigns, events, or creative projects tackling marine issues in Scotland.
Jobs
Job: Feminist Toxic-Free Futures Policy Campaigner – Women’s Environmental Network
Salary: £38,766 FTE (3 days/week)
Contract: 21 hours/week, 2-year fixed term, with potential to extend
Location: Remote/Hybrid – London travel required every 2 months
Deadline: 5pm, 3 June 2025
Super cool opportunity to join the incredible Wen (Women’s Environmental Network). As a policy campaigner, you’ll lead feminist, intersectional work on toxic chemicals and health. You’ll also advocate for stronger UK regulations, build relationships with policymakers, and push for alignment with EU chemical safety standards. This is a fantastic opportunity and overlaps beautifully with our recent parliamentary reception advocating for a PFAS ban as part of the #yourwildstreets campaign.
Trainee Community Engagement Officer – Sussex Wildlife Trust
Location: Henfield, West Sussex (new office likely along the Brighton–Haywards Heath corridor)
Salary & Hours: £21,445 per year • Full-time • 1-year fixed term
Deadline: Monday, 26 May 2025 (applications reviewed on a rolling basis)
A year-long paid traineeship for someone passionate about wildlife and community action. You’ll join a friendly team working to make Brighton’s Deneway Nature Reserve more accessible and vibrant, while gaining hands-on experience, formal conservation training, and skills for a future in the sector.
Developing Green Talent Trainee (x2) – Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Location: Truro, Cornwall
Salary & Hours: £19,656 pro rata • 30 hours/week (Mon–Thurs) • Fixed term until 31 Jan 2026
Deadline: Monday, 12 May 2025
Get stuck into practical conservation work across a range of Mid Cornwall nature reserves: woodland, grassland, heathland, wetland and more. These part-time traineeships are perfect for anyone with a bit of prior outdoor or reserves experience who wants to build hands-on habitat management skills. You’ll work outdoors in all weathers, learn from experienced staff, and get up to £1,000 for formal training like first aid, brushcutter use, or species ID.
Shout Out:
Last week, UKY4N’s power duo Robson Peisley and Seniz Mustafa gave a masterclass in creative campaigning at the recent Students Organising for Sustainability Summit.
In Robson’s words: “Our key highlight from the attendees campaign designs was a 3D immersive video projection onto unused spaces including sounds of nature and scents of grass to target the local council to create a community garden.
It was great to inspire budding environmentalists and develop their abilities as campaigners, as well as broadening their thoughts around what campaigning is all about.”
Enjoyed this? Don’t forget to subscribe!