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
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
NatureScot often have opportunities for entry-level jobs with a focus on nature across Highland, Orkney & Shetland.
Explore their current vacancies here.
-
Thurso Community Development Trust are seeking an experienced Gardener/Grower to manage two established community growing projects. The role involves maintaining productive growing spaces, leading volunteers, and delivering workshops, events, and community activities.
How to Apply
Email alex@thursocdt.co.uk to request a full job application pack and further details.
Closing date: Wednesday 22nd April 2026, 5pm
Interviews: Week commencing 27th April 2026
For more information visit here
-
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
Volunteering
-
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.
-
2050 Climate Group are looking for volunteers to help shape & deliver their Climate Action Leadership Programme. Your role as a volunteer will contribute to all aspects of their learning and leadership activities, and your typical tasks would look like:
Reviewing and making applications for participating in CALP
Being a speaker liaison with our guest speakers (a great way to network)
Creating the workshop design and delivery
Supporting the logistics of in-person event days
Supporting the administration of the programme
Supporting tech for online modules
Communication and promotion of events
Collating feedback on our events and identifying opportunities for improvement
Supporting participants during the programme
Presenting/speaking in public to the cohort and/or speaking about the programme at external events.
Application Deadline: 30th April 2026
Find out more about the opportunity on their website or in their Role Description where you can also apply.
-
2050 Climate Group is looking for new volunteers to support their Leaders Network. The Leaders Network (LN) consists of graduates of the Climate Action Leadership Programme (CALP, previously YLDP), event attendees and previous 2050X Fund recipients.
Your main responsibilities will be:
Planning and delivering events for our Leaders Network
The Leaders Network subgroup takes things seasonally, with one or more themded topics each season. This is a recent change in approach and we’re excited to expand it
Facilitating workshops at CALP and external events
Creating social media content
Writing blogs for our website
Supporting our community through regular engagement
Application Deadline: 30th April 2026
To find out more information, read their full Role Description here and then apply via their website here.
-
2050 Climate Group are looking for new volunteers to join their policy team. The Policy subgroup is one of three teams that make up 2050 Climate Group. The Policy subgroup focuses on enabling young people, ages 18 - 35, to have a voice in the political decision-making process by engaging in policy and supporting them to be active citizens.
Your typical activities will be:
Thinking of creative ways to engage young people in policy and political decision-making
Surveying young climate leaders’ views on environmental issues, then analysing and summarising the results to respond to consultations and give evidence to Parliament
Researching policy issues and upcoming consultations
Planning and leading workshops
Liaising with elected politicians and policy experts
Collaborating with other 2050 Climate Group subgroups and external partners on events
Creating social media content that educates and sparks discussions on policy issues
Application Deadline: 30th April 2026
Find out more about the volunteering opportunity by reading the Role Description here, and then apply on their website here.
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
-
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.
-
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).
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
VolunteerWiki provides a comprehensive webpage which goes into detail on supporting yuth engagement and working with young volunteers.
-
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 is sent quarterly with the latest news, climate action opportunities & information from us. You’ll receive information about how to get involved with our upcoming events. By signing up to receive it you’ll be updated by us straight to your inbox.
