The Youth Sustainability Champions (formerly Youth Focal Points) role is an exciting and unparallelled opportunity for three young people to work together to ensure youth voice is strongly embedded in the DfE Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.

Applications have opened, and will close at 5pm on Wednesday 28th May 2025.

You can apply via this link.

What does it involve?

This role will involve high-level meetings with DfE officials, including civil servants and government ministers; speaking engagements at events; working together to provide evaluation of the strategy; and being supported to facilitate sessions with young people in your own community to understand the impact of the strategy.

Over the two-year role Youth Sustainability Champions will hold responsibility for feeding into domestic and international climate education discussions alongside the DfE, including attendance at COP alongside DfE officials. This means Youth Sustainability Champions will gain experience working on climate education at different levels of governance and policy-making, and will be supported to attend relevant national and international events where possible.

The three young people select will receive consistent support from SOS-UK core staff who will provide relevant and tailored training and mentoring every step of the way. This will start with a fun and informative two-day in-person training workshop in July 2025 to help you settle into the role and develop your understanding – you do not need to be an expert when you apply!

We will help you to learn everything you need to know to make the most of this opportunity. Further training will involve topics such as: public speaking, sharing your point of view, active listening, and consulting your peers. You will develop knowledge in climate change and education policy, as well as how education can have a positive impact on sustainability.

Through this opportunity, you will develop an in-depth understanding of policy implementation and the inner workings of a government department. There will be additional learning opportunities like shadowing a DfE civil servant in the Sustainability and Climate Change Unit or attending conferences and sector events alongside DfE and/or SOS-UK staff. You will have a mentor in the SOS-UK core staff team who you will have regular check-ins with and who will support you every step of the way. You will be supported to reflect on your learning throughout the two-year post, preparing you to apply your skills and understanding to future career or educational opportunities.

You would be a great fit for the role if you are:

- Positive, passionate and excited about sustainability and education

- Willing to represent your peers and speak up on behalf of others

- Open and keen to learn and develop new skills and experience

- Aged 18-23 at the start of the two year term

You do NOT need to have any prior experience nor do you need to be an expert.

Interested candidates should submit an application via Hireful by 17:00 on 28^th May 2025. Short-listed candidates will then be invited for an initial informal interview call with a member of the SOS-UK staff team on 4^th or 5^th June 2025, followed by an interview in person at Department for Education offices in London on 17^th June 2025. All candidates will be notified either way at every stage.

We invite applicants from a wide range of UK educational backgrounds, including traditional and non-traditional schooling routes, those who are currently or have been recently studying in an HE or FE setting, and those who left formal education at 18. We particularly invite applicants who are currently or have recently studied in vocational or training routes.

We are totally committed to equality of opportunity for all. We welcome applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, age, ability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for people from marginalised racial backgrounds and people with disabilities who meet all essential criteria.

Closing date: 17:00 28^thMay 2025

Informal calls: 4^thand 5^th June 2025

In person interviews in London: 17^th June 2025

Start date: 1^st July 2025

Residential training in London: 3^rd and 4^thJuly 2025

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Further details:

This is a two-year position, from July 2025 to June 2027, for three young people aged 18-25 years old throughout the duration of the term(ie no older than 25 on 30^th June 2027).

The commitment involves:

- 2 day in-person training workshop at the beginning of the role

- Monthly online meetings with relevant DfE officials

- Quarterly in person ministerial meetings at the DfE London offices

- An annual in person all-ministerial meeting at the DfE London offices

- Ad hoc engagement activities and events approx. 8x per year  

- Occasional national and possible international travel

- Weekly check-ins with other Youth Sustainability Champions and SOS-UK staff

The three young people must be based in England and aged 18-25 years old. We have a preference for one young person to be based in London, one in the north, and one anywhere else in England.

Paid a stipend of £1000 per year, in quarterly instalments of £250.

All expenses for travel and subsistence will be covered as well as costs to support participation, such as home broadband allowance or budget to purchase formal clothes, if needed.

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