The New to Nature programme will create full and part-time roles in nature and landscape organisations across the UK for young people aged 18–25. Around 70 placements will be available.

Delivered by Groundwork UK – in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, Mission Diverse and Youth Environmental Service – New to Nature will help young people who may not have considered a career in natural heritage and need extra support to find work in the sector.

Opening natural heritage to young people

Many young people don’t see the sector as their first-choice career option, either because the roles needed are not visible to them or they feel excluded.

Graham Duxbury, Chief Executive of Groundwork UK

The programme, which will run until May 2024, will provide placements of up to 12 months for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who are struggling to enter the job market.

The landscape and nature sector will become more inclusive and diverse, building a UK-wide network of jubilee trainees to champion greater diversity and youth voice within the sector, encouraging longer-term change.

Simon Thurley, Chair of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “The Heritage Fund are delighted to launch New to Nature, which will be truly transformative for many young people as well as the organisations they work for. We are pleased to be working in partnership with Groundwork UK and The Prince’s Trust, who are skilled at reaching out to young people, to ensure that this project will leave a strong and lasting natural legacy and change the natural heritage sector for the better.”

Graham Duxbury, Chief Executive of Groundwork UK, added: “Many young people don’t see the sector as their first-choice career option, either because the roles needed are not visible to them or they feel excluded. We know that offering supported paid placements to young people can be a hugely effective way of widening access to opportunities and providing a stepping stone into permanent roles.”

The National Lottery’s Jubilee investment

New to Nature is the second tranche of the £7m Jubilee legacy investment we announced in November. The first tranche, Nextdoor Nature – a £5m programme of community-led rewilding projects delivered by The Wildlife Trusts – launched in March. Both are part of a total £22m National Lottery investment to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.

Are you a nature and landscape organisation?

If you’re an employer interested in providing placements, you can find out more and apply on Groundworks UK’s website.

Other ways to get involved

Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on social media to find out more about the New to Nature and Nextdoor Nature initiatives.

Got an idea for your own natural heritage project? You can apply through our National Lottery Grants for Heritage.