Youth Opportunities Digest
Friday 7th March 2025
Welcome to the Youth Opportunities Digest - for young people, curated by young people.
A key highlight this week is the National Youth Strategy Survey, giving young people a chance to shape youth policy.
For career development, opportunities include The Guardian’s Positive Action Scheme for aspiring journalists, Octopus Energy’s summer internships for Black candidates, and LNER’s Media & PR apprenticeship with Press Association training.
In environmental and climate fields, the Global Youth Climate Training Programme offers a free online course, while the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology has a paid environmental research internship.
For writers and creatives, the Alpine Fellowship Poetry Prize and The Orwell Youth Prize encourage engagement with social and political themes.
In advocacy, Care4Calais seeks asylum-seeker voices for its Advisory Board, while the EU Delegation Youth Advisory Committee and Rural Youth Europe offer policy-shaping opportunities.
Explore the full list and apply!
Each opportunity is listed under its category with the deadline and application link.
Our Collective Agreement:
We only share opportunities that are paid, free, subsidised, or offer valuable skill development. This includes unpaid trustee and advisory roles in small organisations that provide great experience but may not have funding to pay.
Career & Work Opportunities
Volunteer Roles
The YOUTHOOD Project is looking for a Youth Engagement Coordinator to shape campaigns and work with youth panels. No experience needed—just a passion for youth empowerment, collaboration, and making a difference. Ready to drive youth engagement forward? Apply now and be part of YOUTHOOD’s journey.
Work Experience
Laura Kryke-Smith, MP for Aylesbury is offering Your Voice Your Future work experience 4-day programme aimed at building young people's skills in understanding of the UK political system and the work of an MP, and developing your employability skills. Please note you must be an Aylesbury constituency resident and be aged between 16-18-years-old in order to take part. Applications close at 9am on Monday 17th March.
Orange Tree Theatre based in Richmond, London is looking for students in Years 10 – 13 who are interested in working in the creative industries. Work experience is from Monday 30th June – Friday 4th July 2025. Applications close 31st March.The Guardian Positive Action Scheme is a two-week paid work experience for aspiring journalists at their HQ in London. Available for Black, Asian, and minority-ethnic (BAME) people, People with Disabilities, and, for the first time, Social Class applicants. Grants for accommodation are available. Starts Summer 2025. Apply ASAP.
Applications for SATRO Research Work Placements are now open! If you're a Year 12 student passionate about STEM in Surrey, this is your chance to participate in a two-week summer research project with industry leaders. Gain hands-on experience, work on real-world research, and connect with experts in the field. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to boost your skills and explore your future career. Apply by April 4th here.
University of Warwick Scholars is a scholarship for first-year A-level students in the West Midlands, prioritising care leavers, estranged students, students receiving free school meals, and first-generation university students. Benefits include guaranteed lower grade offers (2-4 grades), a 50% tuition fee discount, and up to £2,000 per year for accommodation/travel. Apply by 30th April
The Being a Boy project, launched in 2022 by Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), offers fully funded workshops for boys aged 12-16 to explore themes of masculinity and identity through creative disciplines like fashion, photography, and graphic design. Eligible participants must reside in England, be in Key Stages 3 or 4, and meet at least one widening participation criterion, such as having received Free School Meals or being from a low-participation neighborhood. The upcoming workshops include Identity (14 May 2025), Snapshot (22 May 2025), Reclaim (11 June 2025), and Evolve (17–18 June 2025). Applications are currently open.
Internships
The Conservative Party is now accepting applications for their summer internship at CCHQ! To apply, you must be 18–25 years old in June 2025, have at least a grade 5 in English and Maths GCSE, and meet the academic requirements (A-Level: BCC, BTEC Level 3: MMM, or equivalent to 104 UCAS points). Please note that all candidates must secure accommodation that enables convenient commuting to the CCHQ London office, as the internship is in person. Applications close 11th March.
Octopus Energy is offering paid summer internships in London from July to August, paying the living wage (£28,000 pro rata). These internships cover over 10 different roles and are open to candidates who identify as Black, Black British, African, or Caribbean. The programme aims to provide valuable work experience to underrepresented groups in the sector and encourage them to consider a career in energy. Applications close 1st April.
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is recruiting eight interns for the National Capabilities for Global Challenges Internship Scheme 2025. This six-week paid internship (£2,847 before deductions) runs from 30 June – 8 August 2025 (except Internship 4: 7 July – 15 August 2025) and takes place at Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster, and Wallingford. Interns will gain hands-on experience, work with leading scientists, and contribute to impactful environmental research. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK, be undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD students (or recent graduates), and be able to commit to 37 hours per week. Apply by Wednesday, 2 April 2025.
Apprenticeships
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has launched an 18-month Media and PR apprenticeship with hands-on experience and training at the Press Association. Based in York, salary £22,620. Starts September 2025. Apply by 18th March 2025.
The January 2025 Higher & Degree Vacancy Listing by Amazing Apprenticeships features 2,400 apprenticeship vacancies from over 80 leading employers, including the British Army, AstraZeneca, KPMG, Amazon, Dunelm, JLR, EDF, Rolls-Royce, Shell, Experian, EY, and E.ON. These apprenticeships span various sectors, offering opportunities to earn while learning and gain industry-recognized qualifications. For detailed information on available roles, locations, salaries, and application links, access the full listing here.
Placements
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Professional Work Placements offer one-year placements for those with horticultural qualifications wishing to specialise. Includes an RHS Level 3 Award in Horticultural Investigation. Starts September 2025. Apply by 11th April 2025.
Lived Experience & Advocacy
Research opportunities
Children in Wales - Plant yng Nghymru is looking for young people in Wales to share their experiences of healthcare services and the complaints process. In-person sessions available—register ASAP.
Stuart Andrew, MP for Daventry, invites you to join him for Pizza & Politics—the launch event for my Young Political Forum! Are you passionate about politics? Do you have ideas on key issues affecting young people in Daventry? This is your chance to engage in lively discussions, exchange ideas, and learn how politics shapes your future—all while enjoying pizza! Date: Friday, 14th March 2025 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Register here.
Join Youth Shadows workshops to help shape the future of education. Have your say in what we are taught and how we are assessed. We've got in-person and online workshops: London, 14 March, Bristol, 15 March and online, 31 March and 5 April.
Join National Youth Technology Council in Shaping the Future of Tech. Are you a young person passionate about AI governance, tech ethics, or digital policy? This is your chance to make a real impact. Applications to join the NYTC are now open.
Advisory Boards
European Union Delegation Youth Advisory Committee is looking for 12 young people (18-30) passionate about EU-UK relations. First meeting Spring 2025. Apply by 17th March.
Rural Youth Europe is recruiting young people (18-30) from rural areas for external representation on rural issues. Apply by 23rd March.
Care4Calais is launching an Advisory Board to empower refugees and asylum seekers in shaping the charity’s work. If you have lived experience seeking asylum and a passion for advocacy, this voluntary role offers a chance to guide policies, improve support programs, and receive training in leadership and advocacy. Open to applicants in the UK and Franco-British border, with quarterly online meetings and travel/tech support provided. Apply by 1 April here.
Surveys
Young People and Voter ID in the 2024 General Election
Take part in this survey about young people and voter ID in the 2024 General Election, led by Amanda Amaeshi for her final-year university dissertation.
If you were aged 18-24 on Election Day (4 July 2024) and eligible to register to vote in UK elections, she would love to hear about your experiences and opinions on voter ID. Your responses will help inform my study on how voter ID impacted young voters in last year’s election. It doesn't matter if you were registered to vote, if you voted, or not – as long as you were eligible to vote.
Global Youth Survey
UNEP and CYMG invite young people aged 18-35 years old and youth networks to share their priorities on environmental challenges and help shape youth engagement in addressing the triple planetary crisis. Survey available in: English, French, Russian, Spanish Apply by 11 March
National Youth Strategy Survey by Department for Culture, Media & Sport, #iWill Movement, MyLifeMySay, and Savanta invites young people aged 10-21 (up to 25 with SEND) to shape the National Youth Strategy. Submit your input by 16th April
Funding & Training Opportunities
Training & Events
RISE UP: The Building Aspirations Programme is a two-day immersive career confidence programme in Manchester (17-18th March, 10 AM - 3 PM, lunch provided). Interested? Email info@riseupuk.org ASAP.
20/20 Levels 'I Am Change' Programme is a 12-week free programme to boost careers & business skills. Sessions on Tuesdays or Thursdays (6-8 PM, London). Priority given to Black & racially underrepresented backgrounds, low-income (£20K household) & free school meal recipients. Apply now.
Help Musicians has launched Co-Pilot, a mentoring program offering 8 hours of 1:1 mentoring, networking opportunities, and online resources to help musicians advance their careers. To be eligible, you must have earned money from music in the last two years, be 18+, live in the UK with the right to work, and have savings under £10,000. Applicants should have an active music project or clear career goals, be able to commit time to Co-Pilot activities, and not have completed the program in the last 12 months. Apply by 5pm on 14th March here.
The Global Youth Climate Training Programme (GYCT) is a free, fully online initiative designed to equip individuals aged 16-35 with the knowledge and confidence to engage in international climate policy. The 2025 programme runs from 21 May to 16 July, with an additional session on 4 November before COP30. Participants will benefit from expert-led lectures, interactive peer-learning sessions, and practical advocacy assignments. Applications are open until 21 March. Applicants will be notified of their application status after 21 April.
The In Apprenticeships programme by Youth Employment UK offers free online courses to help apprentices develop skills and career confidence. The six-course programme covers learning management, workplace integration, confidence building, and future planning, with a certificate awarded upon completion. To enroll, sign up as a Young Professional on their platform.
Fellowships
The Alpine Fellowship Poetry Prize 2025 awards £3,000 for first place and £1,000 each for two runners-up for the best poetic response to the theme of Fear. Open to all nationalities, applicants must be 18+ and submit work in English. Entries can be one poem or a collection (max 500 words). Submissions are judged anonymously, and multiple prize entries are allowed. Apply by 1 April.
TheOrwell Youth Prize 2025 is a writing competition for young people aged 13-18, encouraging critical thinking and political engagement through fiction and non-fiction writing. Open to all UK-based students, the prize welcomes essays, stories, and scripts responding to this year’s theme, “Who’s in Charge?”. Winners receive individual feedback, prizes, and publication opportunities. Free writing workshops are also available to support entrants. Apply by 24 April.
Funding
The Big Change Spark award application opens on the 26th of February. If you’re aged between 18-25, living in England, and you have a pilot-ready project that will create positive social impact for all young people, this is your chance to grow, connect, and spark lasting change. Up to 10 young leaders, or teams of three, will receive a grant of up to £40,000 to develop their project, and take part in a 12-month tailored learning and development programme run in partnership with The Young Foundation, worth up to £10,000.
Trustee positions
Interested in becoming a trustee? Only 3% of trustees are under the age of 30.
CSW is recruiting 3-5 new trustees who demonstrate a commitment to the Christian faith and to CSW’s vision of a world free from religious persecution, where everyone can practise a religion or belief of their choice. Apply by 20 March
I have a voice CIC is dedicated to empowering youth through education, advocacy, and grassroots campaigns to make politics more accessible and diverse. They are seeking passionate individuals to join their Board. Ideal candidates are committed to youth political engagement and bring expertise in nonprofit governance, education, or fundraising. If you're ready to make a difference, please send a cover letter outlining your experience and interest to rebecca@ihaveavoice.org.uk by 23rd March
Music at Paxton is recruiting two trustees to help bring quality live music to the under-served Scottish Borders, and support the future of a world-class chamber music festival. Apply by 24 March
National Trust is looking for great people to help protect nature, beauty and history for the next generation, by standing for the 2025 election to the National Trust Council. Apply by 31 March
Mahdlo Youth Zone is looking for young trustees aged 20-25 who are passionate about empowering young people. As a trustee, you'll help shape our vision, guide our strategic direction, and support our team in creating a safe, inspiring, and accessible space in Oldham. We welcome diverse skills and fresh perspectives—from finance to education—to help provide life-changing opportunities for our community. Open until further notice.
Find more under-30 friendly trustee boards through Young Trustees Movement
Have an opportunity for young people and want it featured? Or would you like a plain text version sent via email to share with your networks?
Submit the details here: https://forms.office.com/r/s0DFHJFp9F
Young people involved in this initiative and other ways to find opportunities
Young people involved in this initiative regularly share opportunities on the accounts below.
Ramandeep Nijjar regularly posts on LinkedIn, sharing opportunities related to the environment.
Emma Berwick regularly posts on LinkedIn and includes all opportunities.
Instagram:
Beth Dennis Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/iwill_beth/
Troy Njenje Mbanga Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/iwill.troy/
Blog
Stay updated with the latest news on youth policy and discover extra resources to empower you. Explore more at Youth Voice News.
Alternatively, sign up and subscribe to the planted with purpose blog
https://plantedwithpurpose.substack.com/p/opportunities
Thankyou to the collective young people who helped build this by sharing opportunities and editing
Feedback
Do you have any tips on accessibility? Did we miss something or not communicate clearly? Or do you have ideas on how we can better reach more young people?