Environmental charity Friends of the Lake District is looking for young people aged 18 to 25 who are passionate about the Cumbrian landscape to take part in a new initiative.
Participants will have the chance to learn about the charity’s work to protect and enhance the Cumbrian landscape and environment, and to influence its future work in the Youth Voice scheme.
Youth Voice participants will get the chance to work alongside like-minded people, to build environmental campaigns that they are passionate about, learn about the role of a charity trustee and shadow board meetings, and gain development and leadership experience as well as practical conservation skills.
A report from the University of York said young people would be disproportionately affected by the decisions made about the environment today, but tend to be excluded from decision making processes which affect them and Friends of the Lake District said it wanted to help bridge the gap.
Stephanie Gardiner, engagement trainee with the organisation, said: “Not having a consistent space for young people to get together and share their concerns and ideas for the environment can leave individuals feeling detached from the landscape around them.
“It’s also great to be able to learn practical conservation skills, and experience environmental policies and projects, as so many entry level roles in the environmental sector require these skills.
“Without access to experiences like the Youth Voice, young people who want to get into the environmental sector can feel stuck and end up turning their back on the environmental sector due to it feeling impossible to get into.”
Fore more information and how to apply, visit www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/youth-voice
