How to take part in 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.
About the Young Environmental Leader Award
The award gives you an opportunity to lead, plan, implement, and evaluate an environmental project of your choice. You can do this as an individual or as part of a group of up to six people.
The award can be used to enrich your applications to university, an apprenticeship or a job, and your project can count towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award in both the skills and volunteering sections.
Getting started
Find a suitable supporting organisation
You must nominate an organisation to support you with your award. Your supporting organisation will play an important role in guiding you through your project.
When seeking support, show them the guidance for supporting organisations so they know what’s expected of them. Make sure you read this too. Talk through your project ideas with your supporting organisation to make sure your project is feasible.
Read more about who is eligible to be a supporting organisation
Register for the award
Fill in and submit the online contact form.
We will then contact you to obtain more details about you and your supporting organisation. If you are taking part with a group we will also request details of the other group members.
We will include you and your supporting organisation in all communications about your award and project if you are under 18.
If you are under 18 years old, please make sure you have permission from your parent or guardian to do your project.
How do I start the award?
- Familiarise yourself with the nine leadership dimensions
- Read the evidence portfolio and the assessment criteria to make sure you know what evidence to collect and how to achieve the award.
- Come up with an idea for an environmental project (ideas in FAQ's below). Talk this through with your supporting organisation who can help you refine your idea or decide on something else.
- Work your way through the leadership pamphlets.
For other questions, try exploring the frequently asked questions below:
You get to decide what and how to complete your environmental project. Leading a project is a terrific opportunity to do something you really enjoy or would love to learn more about. You will also be encouraging positive actions for biodiversity and people.
Some project examples include:
- Creating and distributing a magazine on UK native plants and fungi
- Coordinating workshops on how to compost in urban areas
- Creating a seed ‘save and swap’ scheme in the local community
- Building a wildlife corner in a school using recycled waste
- Developing a science communication board game about medicinal plants
- Leading a sustainability campaign in school to encourage recycling
On average, it should take you approximately 30 hours to complete your project for the award.
For now, the Kew Young Environmental Leader Award is free!
There are two opportunities each year:
- Sign up between September and October, submit by the end of July.
- Sign up between April and May, submit by the end of December.
If you need support with your project, leadership pamphlets or evidence portfolio, reach out to your supporting organisation.
If you experience any technical issues with the online registration form or submitting your portfolio, get in touch with Kew via the contact form.
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Guidance for supporting organisations
Learn about the role and responsibilities of supporting organisations within the Young Environmental Leader 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.