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Six people are sat on a bench with three people stood behind them. They are in a barn, smiling at the camera wearing warm clothing.

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Meet our team!

A woman with wavy brown hair clipped away from her face is smiling at the camera. The background is hilly and green and the sun is setting. The image is a headshot, so only her head and shoulders can be seen.

Sofia (she/her)

Participant Support and Delivery Officer - Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts

Sofia is one of the programme's Group Leaders, helping to deliver sessions and supporting participants throughout the programme.

What advice do you have for young environmental leaders?
Keep an open and curious mind and never underestimate your abililty to create positive change. Change comes in so many forms, but knowledge is power, and taking the time to learn more is such an important and exciting step in helping shape the future of environmentalism.

Where do you go to feel connected to nature?
I grew up in Birmingham but I now live on the edge of the Peak District, so my relationship with nature has changed a lot in recent years and I'm still exploring my new local green spots! In Birmingham, I loved visiting Canon Hill Park and Moseley Bog to feel connected to nature.

A young man wearing a white shirt is smiling at the camera, with a butterfly resting on his right arm. He has black sunglasses perched on his head. He is sitting on a black metal bench on decking, with brick buildings in the background.

Benjamin (he/him)

Youth Engagement Officer - Shropshire Wildlife Trust

Benjamin is one of the programme's Group Leaders, helping to deliver sessions and supporting participants throughout the programme.

What advice do you have for young environmental leaders?
Get out there and meet as many people as you can! Visit your local green spaces and join groups and projects related to your interests. Make connections and start conversations about the things you're passionate about and who knows where it will take you!

Where do you go to feel connected to nature?
Anywhere where there are lots of birds! Nature is the best way to de-stress and refocus, and for me there is no better way of doing that than listening to birdsong. Whether in a woodland, at the coast back home in Northern Ireland, or even in the garden, listening to birds will always be my favourite way to spend an afternoon!

A woman with brown hair tied in a bun and glasses is bent over a table, examining part of an owl pellet. There is an information sheet and pile of yellow plastic bowls on the table.

©victorialabouchardiere

Jen Allerton (she/her)

Jen is one of the programme's Group Leaders, helping to deliver sessions and supporting participants throughout the programme.

Youth Engagement Officer - Shropshire Wildlife Trust

What advice do you have for young environmental leaders?
Don't underestimate the power you have. Be bold and never assume you don't have the right authority, expertise, experience, voice or background to influence and lead people to make change.

Where do you go to feel connected to nature?
I love the water, so anywhere near a lake, a river or the sea. I was born on the Essex coast, in an area surrounded by mudflats and saltmarshes, and moving to Shropshire is probably the furthest inland I've ever lived, but a walk along the river or the canal will always make me feel at home.

A brown-haired woman wearing a cream woollen cardigan is hugging a tree trunk and smiling at the camera. She is holding a piece of paper in right hand which is stretched across a wide tree trunk

Rukaiya (she/her)

Head of Programmes - Royal Soceity of Wildlife Trusts

What advice do you have for young environmental leaders?
Don't be afraid to start somewhere! Sometimes taking action around environmental issues can seem overwhelming, but little changes can make big differences. Hopefully during your time on the programme, you'll learn how to maximise the power that you have and meet some great people along the way!

Where do you go to feel connected to nature?
Living in London, it can be hard to find a place to feel connected nature - so I cultivated my own! Now my balcony has herbs and hanging baskets that attract bees and ladybirds, and bird-feeder which encourages the sound of birdsong when they come by for a snack!

A woman short purple hair and a lilac fringe is smiling at the camera. She is wearing tortoiseshell patterend glasses. She is standing in a rocky river, with a landscape of trees behind her on a sunny day.

Ellie (she/her)

Education and Learning Manager - Shropshire Wildlife Trust

What advice do you have for young environmental leaders?
Every leader you admire had to start somewhere. The challenges might seem overwhelming at times, but there are lots of others who share your values and can help you. Small actions can make a big difference if others are inspired to join in.

Where do you go to feel connected to nature?
There are some amazing wild places in Shropshire and I'm lucky to visit many of them for work. Favourites are the Stiperstones for its dramatic landscape and rocks, or Whixall Moss for its peace, tranquility and otherworldly species. In my own time, I love our little patch of local woodland where I can relax, go on bug hunts and make fairy gardens with my daughter.

A young woman with brown hair and blonde highlights, wearing a black cap, is smiling at the camera. She has one arm raised holding the brim of her cap and is wearing a black t-shirt with lots of small, red writing on. She appears to be beside a canal, which is out of focus in the background.

Kayleigh (she/her)

Programme Support Officer - Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts

What advice do you have for young environmental leaders?
Activism can happen in many ways! Explore what you're passionate about and get involved however you can - you'll meet some amazing people along the way.

Where do you go to feel connected to nature?
I recently moved to London so I'm enjoying exploring new green spots here! I love Hampstead Heath and Alexandra Palace Park - I can't wait to explore more.

A woman wearing a backpack is smiling at the camera. There is a grassy muddy land behind her, with some water, and trees in the background. It is a sunny day, with blue skies and a few small clouds. The sun is streaming into the photo from the top left corner.

Libbi (she/her)

Senior Programmes Development Officer - Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts

What advice do you have for young environmental leaders?
Start where you are, with what you have —find your community's environmental challenges and the people already working on them.
This is marathon work, so look after and be kind to yourselves and others and remember that every major environmental victory started with someone who decided to act without perfect conditions.

Where do you feel connected to nature?
I'm a runner, so for me it's when I'm running trails. I'm very lucky to live in the Wye Valley with a lot of incredible landscapes nearby. No matter the weather getting out and moving my body in nature always brings me peace!

A woman with curly brown hair, wearing sunglasses, is smiling at the camera. She is sat on grass, with her legs outstretched in front of her. Behind her is a border of trees, with a small amount of bright sky in the top right corner. She is wearing a blue coat, black leggings and black walking boots.

Rachel (she/her)

Communications Officer - Shropshire Wildlife Trust

What advice do you have for young envrionmental leaders?
Everyone can make a difference! Don't feel that because you're an individual, that you're too small to make an impact. Join a community or group and come together to make a difference. They will be better and stronger because you're involved.

Where do you go to feel connected to nature?
I love being outdoors and near, or in, water. I find it calming, inspiring and humbling to see the power of nature through water. I'm lucky to be able to spend lots of my free time by the sea, or near some of the lakes and rivers in Shropshire.

More about the Environmental Leadership Programme

The second cohort of ELP2 are gathered for a group photo, around 30 people are smiling at the camera, stood in front of a brick building, behind a pond with reeds in it.
About us

Our programme

Discover more about the Environmental Leadership Programme
A group of young people are gathered in front of a staff member from Shropshire Wildlife Trusts, who is stood with his back to the camera, the logo of the trust visible on the back of his fleece. There are five young people facing the camera, but out of focus, with their attention focused on the staff member. They are stood in a wooded area, with tall trees with green leaves in bright sunlight.
Get involved

Be part of the programme

Discover how you can get involved in the Environmental Leadership Programme, either as a participant or by sharing your expertise
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About us

The history of ELP2

Learn more about the history of the Environmental Leadership Programme