Youth for Climate and Nature scheme marks successful ‘Midway Moment’
PUBLISHED ON: 8 APRIL 2025The Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme has reached its halfway stage. Here is a collection of some of the successes so far, you may have seen some of these shared on our social media channels in March and April 2025 with #MidwayMoment.
Blogs:
‘I just feel alive’: How the YouCAN scheme helped Charlie find his passion for working outside
Thanks to YouCAN and through tutoring from dedicated staff, Charlie has found his passion for working outdoors and gained valuable practical experience.
You can also watch our interview with Charlie here:
‘Theatre is the perfect platform’: How young voices shaped new play on climate and nature emergencies
Read our discussion with some of the cast behind Theatre for Life’s production ‘Bringing the Outside In’ – a youth-led play exploring issues such as climate anxiety and air pollution, told through a local lens with inspiration from New Forest folklore and Southampton’s urban landscape.
The Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme marks a successful first year: part one and two
In October 2024 we caught up with all the YouCAN partners to mark the first year of the project. This is a two-part blog series; read part one here and part two here.
Highlights:
Carbon Literacy Training:
The NPA has delivered specialised Carbon Literacy Training to 34 environmental and community leaders through YouCAN, accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project.
Our staff have also received the same training funded through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The training provides a rounded understanding of the environment and changing climate and how this impacts the New Forest. Participants also make their own pledges to reduce their own carbon emissions as part of the course.
So far, pledges submitted as a result of the training could save more than 13 tonnes of CO2 or CO2 equivalent emissions per year. This equates to 1.5 people’s annual emissions or somebody driving from the New Forest to Singapore and back, twice – a total of more than 30,000 miles. This is also equivalent to the estimated weight of 37 healthy adult New Forest ponies.
New Forest Youth Board:
It’s been six months since the New Forest Youth Board launched and in that time they have achieved:
- Over 150 voluntary hours given
- Represented young people at six board meetings, such as the New Forest Consultative Panel
- Contributed to three consultations, including the Local Plan
- Attended four events, including opening and speaking at the New Forest National Park Volunteer Fair
Find out more about the New Forest Youth Board here.
New Forest Young Adult Volunteers:
Through YouCAN, we have been able to provide volunteering opportunities across the Forest, alongside Freshwater Habitats Trust and partners, for young adults (aged 18-30), designed to fit around their work and education.
So far, these volunteers have amassed 445 hours in conservation tasks such as native hedgerow planting, habitat management and heathland restoration.
Find out more about future volunteering opportunities here.
Save the dates:
Conservation Awareness Day, 11 May
Countryside Education Trust, Beaulieu
Urban Wild Festival, 26 May – 1 June
Various events celebrating Southampton’s green and blue spaces
Urban Wild on the Common, 1 June
The final event of Urban Wild taking place on Southampton Common
Bringing the Outside In, 15 July
MAST Mayflower 2pm and 7pm
Current YouCAN opportunities:
The Parks Foundation Young Adult Ranger Work Experience Programme:
Are you, or do you know someone aged 16-25 years old who’d like to gain valuable environmental skills?
Applications are open for their free Ranger Work Experience sessions taking place in parks across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, including several sessions throughout April, find out more here.
Free Tickets to Bringing the Outside In:
Theatre for Life are offering free tickets to young people aged 11-25, youth groups and organisations who support young people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The offer is particularly aiming to connect with young people who are not in mainstream education, home educated & young carers.
To secure your free ticket, register here.
Action Hampshire Young Community Researchers:
Action Hampshire is looking for 4 young people to become volunteer Community Researchers to support their evaluation of the YouCAN project. As a Community Researcher you would be trained on how to undertake a case study of one of the activities being delivered as part of the YouCAN project. Through this exciting opportunity you will develop multiple life skills such as communication and organisation, as well as gain key research skills which are transferable to multiple environments and opportunities. Find out more here.
Join the Green Careers Network:
‘Early career’ doesn’t have an age limit! Whether you’re currently studying at university, have skills gaps you’re looking to fill or you’re considering a change in career, you’re more than welcome to sign on to free training sessions across the National Park, through the Green Careers Network. Simply contact education@newforestnpa.gov.uk to find our more about upcoming opportunities.
Freshwater Habitats Trust Waternews:
Learn more about freshwater conservation and get involved in their upcoming volunteer sessions by subscribing to their e-newsletter, Waternews.
About the YouCAN scheme:
YouCAN was made possible thanks to National Lottery Players, through which £1.2 million was secured from a Climate Action Fund grant from The National Lottery Community Fund – the largest community funder in the UK – and a further £264,000 in match funding from partners. ‘Midway Moment’ is a celebration of the halfway stage of YouCAN and what has been achieved through the Climate Action Fund grant.
The projects within the scheme span 300 square miles across the New Forest, Southampton and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and are led by the New Forest National Park Authority in partnership with the Countryside Education Trust in Beaulieu; Freshwater Habitats Trust; The Parks Foundation in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Southampton National Park City project; Theatre for Life, and care and support charity Alabaré. You can find out more about YouCAN here.
