Highlands & Islands
Climate Collective
Highlands & Islands Climate Collective is here to support young people aged 16-30 to take climate action in Highland, Orkney & Shetland. We spotlight ways that you can take action, connect with community groups and organisations, and help you build skills to enter a sustainable career.
We’ve brought together opportunities from our members, community groups and organisations across the region for you to get involved with:
We are also keen to support members of the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub, organisations and community groups to develop opportunities for young people to get involved. We’ve collated essential resources to guide youth engagement.
Meet the Youth Advisory Board
H&I Climate Collective is guided by our Youth Advisory Board so it remains aligned to the needs and priorities of young people across the region.
By joining our Youth Advisory Board you shape H&I Climate Collective, reach out to us with your interest in joining by sending an email to enquiries@hiclimatehub.co.uk.
Daisy Hunt
I really enjoy map-reading and hillwaking, so being able to help other young people connect with their local environment is exciting. I joined the Youth Advisory Board to develop professional communication skills, help plan events and gain an understanding of sustainability which will help my future career.
James Wilkie
Going for long runs and walks in my local area really makes me appreciate the environment around me and I want everyone to be able to access the outdoor environment. I’ve been involved with MaCCOLL marine conservation charity and want to meet new people through H&I Climate Collective.
Niamh Macdonald
Living in rural Highland, I already see the impacts of climate change on my community. As someone with a passion for local heritage I want to see how we can protect our history and adapt for the future. As well as history I enjoy reading, gaming and crochet.
Training & Education Resources
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Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is an environmental journalism programme and competition hosted by Keep Scotland Beautiful that gives young people aged 8 to 25 an opportunity to speak on environmental issues through writing, photography, podcasting or video.
Sign up by 22nd April 2026
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Delivered by the 2050 Climate Group, the Climate Action Leadership Programme will equips you with leadership skills and climate change knowledge needed to take effective action. It’s open to those aged 18-35, based in Scotland and passionate about climate action.
Duration: September 2026 - March 2027
You can register for the next cohort here from July 2026.
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University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) offers short courses focused on sustainability which you can undertake whilst working or longer courses which are Postgraduate Masters. These are all delivered online, so can be undertaken across Highland, Orkney & Shetland wherever you are based.
Find the full offering of UHI’s Sustainability courses here.
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The Scottish Government have created a version of their Climate Change Plan specifically for young people. The CCP is a 15-year plan which sets out the policies and proposals Scottish Government will take forward to enable their carbon goals to be met between 2026 and 2040.
You can read the policy guide here.
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NatureScot have listed important work which can be conducted as a Masters’ Research Project.
They are encouraging interested students or supervisors to complete an expression of interest form and reach out to them by email to research@nature.scot.
Find out more about the opportunity here.
Green Career Opportunities
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Designed to help you find the career path that suits your skillset, the Green Careers Hub has created job profiles to help you understand different roles in organisations which focus on sustainability.
Some of the example jobs they go in depth on are a Carbon Accountant, Ecologist & Sustainability Manager.
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NatureScot often have opportunities for entry-level jobs with a focus on nature across Highland, Orkney & Shetland.
Explore their current vacancies here.
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Are you a young person from a Black, Asian or other minority ethnic background? Do you want to make a real difference for Scotland’s seas?
Young Sea Changers are recruiting a trainee who will strengthen youth voice in marine policy. You’ll play an essential part in organising their annual Community Gathering and craft your own marine policy project, tailored to your interests and skills.
Salary: £13.45/hour
Closing date: 19th May at 9am
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FreshSight is a student-led consultancy partnering with charities, social enterprises, and mission-driven organisations to support sustainable growth and maximise impact.
Their consultants work in small, well-supported teams on live client projects, addressing challenges across strategy, marketing, partnerships, and funding.
Their next round of recruitment opens in September 2026, sign up on their website to be notified when recruitment goes live here.
Volunteering
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Shetland Youth Voice is hosted by Shetland Island Council and about giving young Islanders a voice by creating a platform for young people to express their ideas, opinions, and concerns. They meet 4 times a year to discuss key issues in Shetland and participate in themed activities to understand how young people feel about particular topics.
The group is made up of general members, executive members, and a leadership team. You can become a general member if you are aged 12-25, and your role will be to represent secondary schools and voluntary organisations across Shetland. Executive members are selected from the general members, and have additional responsibilities to meet more frequently to take action on what is discussed at general meetings. The leadership team, including a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, is elected annually to lead the group.
You can find out more about Shetland Youth Voice here, and get involved by sending an email to shetlandyouthvoice@shetland.gov.uk or phoning 01595 744490.
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NatureScot is launching the Future Routes for Nature Fund – a fund for young people by young people.
We are looking for young people to join the judging panel to help assess the applications and decide which projects are granted funding. They will be fully supported by NatureScot, so no experience of grants is needed. This opportunity is open to 11–26-year-olds from anywhere in Scotland.
Why get involved?
Have a say in the funding opportunities for young people in Scotland.
Help empower and equip young people to act for biodiversity and climate.
Meet other young people involved in nature and youth projects.
Use their own experience to benefits other young people in Scotland.
Develop the following skills: Clear and effective communication, decision making, team working, analysing information, articulating feedback, reflecting on their own experience and many others.
Influence how NatureScot provide funding and help us make it more accessible to all.
What do you have to do?
1-hour online training session on grant assessments (evening of w/c 10rd June)
2-3 hours between 24th June and 4th July to read over applications (total time will depend on number of applications received)
3-hour in-person workshop on 4th July to assess the applications as a panel.
Find out more about the opportunity here - Future Routes for Nature Fund.
Email futureroutesfund@nature.scot if you are interested to receive a registration form and more information.
Events
H&I Climate Collective will be bringing you events throughout the year to develop your skills and explore climate action. You’ll be able to find them listed here and sign up to join us!
Our Launch Event
Want to find out more about what you can expect from H&I Climate Collective? Watch the recording of our Launch Event where we shared our ambitions and heard from two inspiring speakers on their climate journey and sustainable careers!
Upcoming Events
Support for Community Groups & Organisations
By engaging young people in climate action you can benefit from their perspectives and skills. However it’s important to have strong safeguarding and recognition for young people in place.
Recognising & Awarding Young People
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The Saltire Awards are a nationally recognised award for volunteering, for young people aged 12 – 25.
Young people gain certificates, signed by Scottish Government ministers, for the volunteering they have successfully achieved.
Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI) have developed a comprehensive guide to the Saltire Award Types and how they can be administrated by groups.
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Delivering the DofE Award enables young people aged 14-24 to gain Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards. For your organisation, it can strengthen your position within the community and positively impact on young people getting involved with local initiatives.
To deliver the DofE programme, organisations must meet certain eligibility criteria, allowing them to then be granted a licence and become a Licensed Organisation (LO).
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Youth Scotland Awards enable young people to work towards 3 different achievement levels - HI5 Award, Dynamic Youth Award & Youth Achievement Awards.
Charities & community groups can become a Delivery Hub through annual registration packs, which cost £500/year plus nominal fees for each award granted.
Youth Engagement Toolkits
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The Scottish Government has published guidelines to help the third sector, community groups and partners in the public and private sector to offer practical and effective volunteering opportunities to young people.
It focuses on the key aspects of recruiting, retaining & developing young people.
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Youth VIP have designed a toolkit which is useful as a first starting point for organisations engaging with young people. It covers practical information like insurance, training and ongoing support.
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VolunteerWiki provides a comprehensive webpage which goes into detail on supporting yuth engagement and working with young volunteers.
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Future Forum brings together youth representatives and senior leadership from leading climate and conservation charities in the UK to discuss how the sector can better engage and empower young people.
Organisations who join the initiative nominate two young people from their youth boards, a youth engagement manager and a member of senior leadership to sit on the Forum.
The Future Forum convenes, supports and mentors the young people, helping them organise themselves into project groups, ensuring they are fully prepared for meetings with CEOs and senior leadership.
Join
H&I Climate Collective
The Highlands & Islands Climate Collective Newsletter lands in your inbox every quarter, packed with the latest updates, climate action opportunities, and information from us. It’s your go-to for finding out how to get involved and be part of what’s coming up - and by signing up it'll come straight to your inbox!
