Campaign by Story
The Challenge
Young adults care deeply about the climate and nature crises, yet many feel unsure where they fit or how they can take action. Eco-anxiety is rising, access to nature is unequal, and pathways into nature recovery often assume people already have confidence, experience, networks or resources.
At the same time, the environmental sector remains one of the least diverse sectors in the UK. Too many young adults do not see themselves represented in the spaces where decisions about nature and climate are being made.
Discover Nature Award exists to change this.
Building Something Different
Our vision is for the people leading nature recovery to be as diverse as the nature we are restoring. We believe belonging comes before expertise, and that everyone should have the opportunity to find their place in nature recovery.
We are building a truly youth-led charity where young adults are not only participants, but help shape the future of the organisation. While only around 1% of trustees across the UK charity sector are under 30, our trustee board is made up entirely of young adults aged 20–29, ensuring young people have a genuine voice in the decisions shaping our future.
We are building a different pathway, one where young adults can develop confidence, leadership skills and a lasting connection with nature while helping shape how we respond to the climate and nature crises.
We’ve planted the seed of something special. Setting up a new charity is not easy, but with the support of kind people like you, we can help it grow into something that creates lasting opportunities for young adults across Scotland.
We are raising funds to help establish our charity and deliver our free Discover Nature Award across Edinburgh and Glasgow in 2027, helping more young adults find their place in nature recovery.
Meet some our new trustees helping us grow:
Abisola Bello (She/Her), 25, Edinburgh
"I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, on an island in a very busy city surrounded by water but with limited access to green spaces. Because of this, I understand that access to nature is not equal for everyone, and many young people grow up without opportunities to explore the natural environment.
I became a trustee of the Discover Nature Award because I want to connect with more young adults, especially those from diverse or urban backgrounds, and help them feel welcome in nature spaces. I hope the future of nature recovery is inclusive, diverse, and driven by young people who care about the environment."
Aman Kashyap (He/Him), 28, Edinburgh
"When I first migrated to the UK, nature helped me find a sense of belonging, and by building a connection with the land, I could better understand the culture and people around me. Being part of DNA is the first step towards finding my place in the environmental sector. Young people often discover the importance of these spaces later in life, and I believe that by familiarising youth with nature earlier, we can reduce barriers and work towards safeguarding and restoring green spaces. It’s my hope for a future where we don’t just take from nature but give back to it, and truly learn to coexist."
Siân Finlayson - (She/Her), 27, Glasgow
"Young people often feel unsure where they fit in nature recovery because they’ve never been invited in. They have passion, creativity and lived experience that nature recovery urgently needs, but they need support and opportunity to take part. I became a trustee of the Discover Nature Award because I believe everyone should have the chance to build meaningful connections with nature. I’m committed to supporting community-led, co-created projects that empower young adults to take action and find their place in nature recovery."