As part of my work with Southampton National Park City, I developed this programme to support the city's young and emerging changemakers and contribute to the wider Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme (led by the New Forest National Park Authority). "Young Placemakers" is a grassroots educational, mentoring and grant programme designed to grow young people (aged 18–25) as confident, creative community organisers responding to the climate and nature crises within their local environments. I conceived, designed and wrote this programme in full, including leading in its delivery until my maternity leave in 2025.
The project emerged from the need to amplify youth-led responses to eco-social challenges in Southampton, particularly in communities most affected by environmental inequities. Rooted in the ethos of community power, social justice and ecological care, "Young Placemakers" supports participants to develop their own community-led initiatives around green space, biodiversity and climate resilience.
Participants engage with a series of bespoke educational content on climate justice, social action, citizen power and asset-based community mapping. They are paired with experienced mentors throughout the community and supported to design and pitch grassroots projects rooted in local eco-social opportunities. Successful proposals receive funding and delivery support. As a result, a range of youth-led projects are developed, each with its own place-based environmental focus and plan for local impact.
My work included the creation of a full educational toolkit to guide participants and mentors alike, development of reflective and dialogic mentorship resources, management of communications, and coordination of project evaluation. The programme also facilitates intergenerational exchange between experienced organisers and emerging leaders, building long-term relationships and a wider network of eco-social changemakers across the city.
"Young Placemakers" is not only a capacity-building programme, but a relational infrastructure for reimagining local governance, environmental stewardship, and youth leadership in a time of planetary uncertainty.
