Woodland Trust offers exciting chance for young people to win project funding for environmental action

Young people across the UK have been given an exciting opportunity to win funding to help tackle climate change as part of a ground-breaking initiative from the Woodland Trust.

The youth innovation competition offers young people the chance to secure part of a £20,000 prize to support their own environmental projects.

The competition comes against the backdrop of an alarming Met Office announcement that 2022 was the warmest year in the UK on record, highlighting the desperate need for climate change action.

Nine individuals or small groups (aged between 16-25) will win up to £5,000 project funding each, along with mentorship from leading industry experts to deliver projects which directly fight the climate crisis.

The projects will need to fit into three categories: inspire, protect and create. This could include anything from tree planting projects and championing ancient trees to innovative ideas that aid farming and the protection of UK rivers and wildlife.

Woodland Trust chief executive Dr Darren Moorcroft said: “Young people can often feel very anxious and helpless about climate change but want the opportunity to make a difference. We know trees are one of our best defences against the climate crisis – and getting more trees in the ground is vital if we are to see a positive future for people and wildlife.

“As the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, who has been planting and protecting trees and woods for more than 50 years, we are perfectly placed to provide this opportunity.

“The next generation will inherit the impacts of climate change, so it is crucial they are given the chance to bring their energy and innovation to the fight in tackling it now.”

The top 18 applications will be invited to take part in workshops that will teach them how to professionally pitch their project idea and the finalist will go on to present their environmental innovations to a panel of celebrity judges and experts.

Grace Howourth, head of youth re-imagined at the Woodland Trust said: “We need more young people to become advocates for woods and trees and we are excited to be able to open this opportunity to help fund important projects which will directly address the climate and nature crisis.

“You don’t have to be from an experienced environmental or conservation background or have academic qualifications to enter, as we are looking for people from all backgrounds and walks of life to enter with a great idea that can impact woods, wildlife and people.”

Applications are now open and will close on 7 February 2023 at 4pm.

For more information on how to apply, please visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or email youth@woodlandtrust.org.uk.

Notes to editors

For more information please contact the Woodland Trust press office on media@woodlandtrust.org.uk or rubyharrison@woodlandtrust.org.uk

The Woodland Trust

The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK with more than 500,000 supporters. It wants to see a UK rich in native woods and trees for people and wildlife. The Trust has three key aims:

• protect ancient woodland, which is rare, unique and irreplaceable
• restoration of damaged ancient woodland, bringing precious pieces of our natural history back to life
• establish native trees and woods with the aim of creating resilient landscapes for people and wildlife.

Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 29,000 hectares. Access to its woods is free so everyone can benefit from woods and trees.

Youth Innovation Competition

Application process

• Round One: Application

Send us your applications! You'll just need to briefly summarise your concerns relating to woods, wildlife or climate change and outline how your project can influence positive change.

• Round Two: Shortlisted applicants invited to training

The top 18 applications will be invited to take part in online workshops to help boost your pitch and support your ideas to come to life.

• Round Three: Video Pitch

These 18 applicants will be invited to submit a video pitch, where we will select the final 9 applicants to go to the final.

• Round Four: The Final

The final is a face-to-face judging event*, where you will be pitching your environmental innovations to our audience and panel of celebrity judges and experts who will be deciding on the length of mentorship and financial backing.

How will entries be judged

• Innovation - You will be judged on how innovative and creative your idea is against the pool of other submissions within each category.
• Impact - The more impactful your idea is for woods and wildlife, the more we'll want to support it.
• Feasibility - We want you to dream big, but it has to be doable. Each project will be judged on the practicality of its journey from idea to real world application within the 12-month delivery time span.
• Research - What need or problem is your idea solving? What evidence do you have to back up your pitch? Demonstrate that you have identified a real, existing issue and show how you think your idea will creatively solve this problem.

Key dates

• 15 December 2022 - applications open
• 7 February 2023 - applications close
• 14 February 2023 - applicants informed successful/unsuccessful
• TBC early March - training event - learn to pitch your project
• 21 March 2023 - video submission deadline
• 4 April 2023 - applicants informed successful/unsuccessful
• 22 April 2023 - final in-person judging event

Terms and conditions

*Anyone who is not 16 - 25 on the day of the final, April 22nd 2023 as stipulated will be disqualified. Proof of ID may be required. You (and your team if applicable) need to be UK based.

*Travel expenses will be included for all finalists.

*Each finalist will need to attend mandatory quarterly workshops throughout their mentorship period and will be fully supported by their mentor and Woodland Trust staff in the management of the project throughout the awarded time per project.