Species On The Edge Youth Panel - Interested? Sign Up For More Details

19th September 2023

Do you care about your local wildlife and want to inspire others to take action?

We're looking for young people aged 16-25 from across the Species on the Edge project areas to join the Species on the Edge Youth Panel.

Panellists will meet online to discuss issues relating to the natural environment and will be supported in developing their own local projects to help more people connect with nature. There will also be the opportunity to join a spring residential.
Why do we want your help?
Scotland's coast and islands are amongst the most biodiverse areas in the UK. They provide a last refuge for some of our most beautiful and unusual, but also most vulnerable, species. Sadly, many of our species are now in decline and some are on the cusp of extinction.

Species on the Edge is a partnership of NatureScot and seven conservation charities dedicated to improving the future of 37 of the rarest and most threatened species on Scotland's coasts and islands. We are working with local people across our seven project areas to help them support and save their local wildlife.

We want to include everyone in the fight to save nature and we particularly need the knowledge, experiences, and innovative thinking that young people offer.

How can you help us?
By joining our youth panel, you will have the opportunity to investigate and discuss issues relating to the natural environment and your community with other young people from around the country.

Panel members will meet online at least four times a year and will attend a spring residential. Through these meetings, panel members will be supported to enact change for nature at a local level.

What will you gain from this experience?
The Species on the Edge Youth Panel will offer you the opportunity to gain knowledge and develop your skills, confidence, and employability. You'll be supported to develop your own project, access opportunities from across the partnership, and contribute to the Species on the Edge programme.

This role offers you:

the chance to meet new people and learn from experts within the conservation sector
the opportunity to develop your own project to support others to connect with nature
opportunities for training to support your personal development
The programme will cover all travel, accommodation, and reasonable expenses associated with the Species on the Edge Youth Panel.

The skills we are looking for:
an interest in Scotland's wildlife
good listening and communication skills
commitment to supporting the needs of diverse communities and a commitment to equality of opportunity
willingness to learn new skills
commitment to join at least four virtual meetings a year and a spring residential (dates to be planned with the panel members)
commitment to planning your own connection to nature project, with budget and staff support from the Species on the Edge team
Who can apply
Applications are open to anyone aged between 16 & 25 and based in one of our seven project areas: the Outer Hebrides; the Inner Hebrides and Argyll; the North Coast; the East Coast; Orkney; Shetland; and the Solway Coast.

We want to reach a wide range of young people with a breadth of experiences. So whether you have lots of experience of conservation volunteering, or none, we encourage you to apply; all we ask is you have a passion and commitment to standing up for nature.

We wish for the panel to be as inclusive as possible, and we encourage you to share any access needs with us upon application.

How to apply
Applications will open on 2nd October. To keep up to date with programme news and to receive a notification that applications have opened, please sign up to the Species on the Edge mailing list.

If you have any questions, please get in touch: SOTE@nature.scot

For more information and to sign up to the mailing list go HERE