A year of green work,
for young people,
to save the planet.

The Youth Environmental Service is a new programme, creating opportunities for young people from across the UK to spend a year working in paid, nature-based projects where they can build new skills, make new connections, and save the environment, all at the same time

Photo courtesy of Heart of England Forest

The UK is staring down the triple barrel of a climate and natural-world emergency, a lost economic generation, and an impending mental and physical public health crisis.

The Youth Environmental Service offers a solution. By creating accessible paid nature-based work for young people aged 18-25, we could energise the next generation of happy, healthy, productive citizens to join the fight against environmental catastrophe.

83%

Of the public say Government should offer nature jobs to those unemployed in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond 1

32%

Of young people believe work experience opportunities would be the single most useful support they could receive right now 2

700,000

New green jobs are expected to be created (and will need filling) in the UK by 2030 3

<5%

Of the environmental sector is made up of people from ethnic minorities, making it one of the least diverse professions in the UK 4

How it works

Environmentally focused

The Youth Environmental Service (YES) gives young people aged 18-25 a year doing paid work on a variety of nature-based projects, learning new skills, making new friends, and helping address a variety of critical environmental challenges.

Addressing structural
inequalities

As one of the least diverse workforces in the country, the environmental sector needs new, accessible and inclusive pathways.

YES will allow young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds to build valuable skills and practical experience as a stepping stone to a fulfilling career.

Providing meaningful and rewarding work

From planting trees to building natural flood defences, protecting our marine environments and creating green spaces in our cities and towns, trainees will have opportunities to learn new skills in a variety of different environments, building confidence and networks that will set them up for a rewarding and productive future.

The impact it’ll have

Environmental

Working in line with the government’s 25 year environmental plan, focusing on restoring our natural resources to help combat the causes and the consequences of climate change
Economic

Good paid work to combat high youth unemployment and contribute to the government’s levelling up agenda, giving young people the skills they need for a green career going forward
Social

Building a diverse community of young people from all backgrounds, who can work together, learn from one another, and connect across communities, creating a coalition in the fight against the climate crisis
Health

Encouraging greater nature connectedness, encouraging physical activity in natural environments to nuture better physical and mental wellbeing among young people