Guidance for Supporting Organisations
Learn about the role and responsibilities of a supporting organisation within the Young Environmental Leader Award.
What is a supporting organisation?
All individuals and groups completing the Young Environmental Leader Award require a supporting organisation to assist them through the completion of the award. Supporting organisations play an important role in guiding young people through their project.
Organisations can support more than one young person. Kew recognises that the level of help young people will need to deliver their project will vary according to their age, abilities and needs.
Who is eligible to be a supporting organisation?
As a supporting organisation, you must be:
- An established and relevant organisation that is charitable in purpose or not for profit. In particular a:
- School
- Voluntary, youth or community group
- Arts charity
- Local authority or other council body
- Health authority
- Able to provide a member of staff or volunteer to:
- support the young person as required with advice and guidance, access to facilities and equipment, publicity of activities, etc.
It is the responsibility of all supporting organisations to:
- Support the young person with the day-to-day delivery of the project, including meeting regularly with the young person to discuss the project and providing advice, guidance and feedback as required. Please note Kew is able to help with general support around the award, however we are not able to offer advice on the day-to-day running of the award.
- Ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone participating in the project.
- Ensure that all people who feature in photographs* or videos give their consent to take part (please see below if the young people are under 18).
- Support the young person to source a STEM mentor if desired. Information about the STEM Ambassador programme can be found here.
- Assess the evidence gathered by the young person and advise on whether it meets the assessment criteria for the award.
- Support the young person to complete and submit the Young Environmental Leader evidence portfolio.
*Photographs shared with Kew may be used by Kew for publicity purposes, so only submit images that you have permission to share.
Where projects involve working with young people under 18, individuals and groups with additional needs and/or vulnerable adults, it is the additional responsibility of the supporting organisation to:
- ensure that the parent/guardian of the young person registering for the Award is aware of the project and has given consent for their child to be the nominated project leader†
- ensure there is consent for all young people under 18 to participate in activities delivered as part of the project
- ensure that all young people (in any of the groups outlined above) who feature in photographs or videos have consent from a parent/guardian to take part
- ensure that all staff and volunteers working with the project have a disclosure check (that is relevant for their UK location and related activities) and have received the appropriate training to support the group and activities
- safeguard children under 18 and/or vulnerable adults whilst they are taking part in the project (including any related online and social media activity).
†Due to Kew’s data protection and safeguarding policies, where the project leader is under 18, Kew will always contact you as the supporting organisation in all communications about the award.
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Young Environmental Leader Award Resources
All of the resources you need to complete the Young Environmental Leader Award.
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About the Young Environmental Leader Award
Become an environmental leader and drive positive change for the natural world through taking action and raising awareness of environmental issues in your community.