Youth empowerment in conservation is crucial: it fosters a lifelong connection to nature and infuses fresh perspectives and innovative solutions into a field that desperately needs them. It also builds future conservation leaders who can raise awareness, ensure long-term sustainability, and promote inclusivity within the conservation community. Within my work, youth empowerment is at the heart of my values.
London Wildlife Trust
In my role as Head of Youth Programmes at London Wildlife Trust, I have the privilege of working with fantastic and motivated young people across London. Our sector-changing paid traineeships mean young people from underserved communities can access their first job in the sector at the London Living Wage, and our Youth Board highlights the importance of youth governance across all levels of the organisation.
Taking my learnings from BTO, I organised the Trust’s first residential for young people, updated the Youth Board’s way of working, and supporting an incredible existing team with continuing to develop their areas of expterise.
In 2025, we will be launching the Keeping it Wild Collective, a new, large-scale programme to help young people in London find a community of like-minded people and help recover nature in London, bringing nature into every neighbourhood.
Find out more about our work on our website.
The Youth Board at their first 2024 meeting (above). At our residential, and meeting Deputy Mayor Mete Coban (below).
BTO Youth
BTO Youth is a vibrant and visionary initiative that took flight in 2019, co-founded with the passionate involvement of the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP). The journey began with a clear mission: to ignite a love for birds and nature in young people, fostering their leadership and involvement in the world of conservation.
At the heart of our initiative is a robust Youth Engagement strategy, developed by YAP, which ensures that young voices are not just heard but actively contribute to shaping our mission and decision-making processes. This strategy forms the backbone of their efforts. It outlines an ambitious and youth-led Youth Engagement Programme, featuring over 15 projects designed to nurture the conservation leaders of tomorrow. Additionally, we introduced the Youth Representative scheme in 2021, recruiting over 35 enthusiastic young volunteers across the UK, all dedicated to creating safe spaces for young people to enjoy nature.
Through a range of engaging events, from Bird Camps to conferences, training opportunities, and local events hosted by our Youth Representatives, BTO Youth brings young people closer to the fascinating world of birds and nature.
I am proud of the milestones I achieved during my time at BTO, from delivering the UK’s inaugural Youth in Nature Summit in October 2022, thanks to the Youth Advisory Panel, to recruiting BTO’s first Youth Trustee in 2022, marking a significant cultural shift in organisational culture. The Youth Volunteers had the unique opportunity to engage with the Prince of Wales at Kensington Palace, highlighting the significance of our work.
Read more about this work on the BTO Youth hub.
BTO Youth at the inaugural Youth in Nature Summit in 2022 (above); a selection of our projects and programmes (below).
Little Fireface Project
Whilst working at the Little Fireface Project, I had the opportunity to develop and build on an excellent body of work engaging children and communities with the conservation of the Critically Endangered Javan Slow Loris.
For young minds, the slow loris, with its large, soulful eyes and unhurried movements, becomes a captivating character in the story of nature. Through educational programs and community engagement, children are introduced to the fascinating world of slow lorises, unlocking their natural curiosity about these elusive creatures. I collaborated with local schools, hosting educational sessions that immerse children in the world of slow lorises.
Alongside this I organised special events and activities that allow children to connect with nature in a profound way. Whether it’s participating in ‘Pride Day’ celebrations, complete with sports tournaments and games inspired by slow lorises, or exploring the forest alongside dedicated researchers, these experiences ignite a lifelong passion for wildlife.
By nurturing this curiosity and love for the natural world, the Little Fireface Project ensures that these children grow up as guardians of the slow loris.
Find out more about the Little Fireface Project on their website.
With our regular class at the MI Al-hidayah school in Cipaganti (above); a selection of projects (below).
Faye Vogely 