Green Leaders – how young volunteers are gaining valuable skills and experience for free in the Peak District

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Clara Thomas (29), Trainee Ranger with the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA), talks about her experiences as a young adult breaking into the countryside jobs market, and how the Green Leaders programme (for 18 to 27 year olds) is helping to reduce some of the barriers

As someone under 30, I am often asked how I got my role: a 1-year traineeship as Trainee Ranger with the UK’s first national park. To be honest, despite years of studying, working and volunteering, it still feels as though I got here through sheer luck. It’s not imposter syndrome, there were more than 120 applications for my role – the odds seem to be stacked against us!

A person smiling at the camera while drystone walling — Clara Thomas Drystone Walling at National Stone Centre (Matthew Greenan)

With entry-level roles like mine flooded with candidates, who often have multiple degrees and years of experience, you can imagine that the apparent unattainability of jobs is daunting. This sits uncomfortably alongside other barriers preventing us from accessing the countryside in the first place. Lack of transport, money, time, and personal confidence, were all issues highlighted in the recent Landscapes Review (2019) led by Julian Glover, and result in many young people simply being unable to get the initial experience needed to even be considered for a role that is designed to help them get started.

Fortunately, there is hope and there are opportunities, and the Peak District National Park as one of the most accessible UK national parks is well-positioned to help challenge age diversity in our sector. With several major urban centres nearby, including Sheffield, Manchester and Derby, the Peak District’s central location and public transport connections makes for realistic opportunities for volunteering, training, working and visiting.

Happily, the Peak District National Park Management Plan 2023-2028 includes providing young people with more opportunities to connect and work in the area. It puts it on the agenda officially. You could check online to see if your local National Park has this too.

A group of people looking at maps in a meadow — Green Leaders looking at OS Maps on a navigation training day (Rob Kenning)

The good news is that since 2023, the Peak District National Park Authority has been developing its own future leaders through an ‘Academy’ programme; welcoming dozens of apprentices, trainees and placements to departments across the organisation, aiming to inspire, build skills and careers for us: the future custodians of the National Park. Those involved have gone on to secure roles at the Authority, other environmental organisations or taken their experiences into further study. Under this ‘opportunities umbrella’ is the Green Leader volunteer programme which is providing the stepping stones for 18 to 27 year olds to gain experience and skills.

The Green Leaders initiative is supported by the National Park Authority’s Engagement Team. There is a volunteering session on the fourth Saturday of every month for around 12 to 15 young people. Each session focuses on building a particular skillset within a practical conservation context, such as fencing, dry stone walling, species identification, tree planting, and group management. In addition, each month, a different countryside professional (a National Park employee, or someone from a local organisation) hosts an informal Q&A session. This gives participants the opportunity to learn about a variety of roles and work, meet new contacts and network, as well gain practical career skills and experiences which are essential for applying for jobs.

Whilst many attendees are interested in environmental careers, it is definitely not a requirement of joining Green Leaders. For some, the opportunity to get out into the Peak District, meet others and engage with nature is what they need from the group. Having said that, in 2024 we had two participants successfully gain paid countryside jobs elsewhere, as well as a nominee for a Young Changemaker of the Year Award with Campaign for National Parks. And attendance is increasing.

Two people in a woodland smiling — Volunteers cutting back a footpath with tools (Matthew Greenan)

So, what have we learnt along the way?

Lesson 1 – Representation. I currently lead the group with two Volunteer Leaders, also under 30, who have progressed from being Green Leaders themselves, and have environment-related roles outside the National Park. Having the project run by early-career individuals, has really helped with the growth and direction of the group, compared with previous years when it relied on older employees and volunteers to drive it forward. Representation is vital, and seeing other young people working towards a career in the sector, sharing knowledge and challenges has made the project a real collective of young minds.

Lesson 2 – Open Dialogue. Having the time and means to participate in sessions can be a massive challenge, so it is vital that our Green Leaders are provided with enough benefits to make it worth their while. Our young volunteers have the ability to challenge current practices and ask for their needs to be met. For example, many volunteers have noted a lack of leadership experience that is preventing them from being successful in interviews. In response, we are looking at how we can open up more opportunities for individual leadership in the monthly sessions. In addition, community engagement has proved invaluable for increasing volunteer numbers, with school visits and university open days proving beneficial.

Lesson 3 – Overcoming Practical Barriers. We offer transport via minibus to all of our volunteer groups from Grindleford Station which offers an hourly bus and railway collection point between Sheffield and Manchester, as well as a meeting point direct to site, for those traveling by their own means. We have found the lift option is popular with the majority of our young volunteers, with our vehicles consistently at capacity on our Green Leaders days.

A group of people smiling at the camera on a blue sunny day, drystone walling — Green Leaders drystone walling in Hathersage (Rob Kenning)

Outcomes and Future. The Green Leaders programme at the Peak District National Park has grown steadily and we are expanding further. We have found that having the targeted-age-group approach (18 to 27) has created a fun, welcoming and relaxed environment for activities and events, generating a great atmosphere for learning new skills, meeting new people and exploring the Peak District. In 2025, residentials, additional groups and integration with the Youth Voice project are some of the experiences our Green Leaders can look forward to.

Young volunteers coming through our Green Leaders programme are working hard to develop their skills and knowledge and have the potential to go on to achieve great things. It is crucial we support them, and support them we will.

If you would like to know more about Green Leaders in the Peak District, visit www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/volunteering (you will find an online application form there) or send us an email.