New to Nature
Building Careers and Changing Lives
New to Nature was established to deliver potentially life-changing experiences for people from groups that are underrepresented in nature careers, as part of efforts to create a more inclusive environmental sector. The programme was aimed at young people who are disabled, from an ethnic minority, or from low-income homes – providing opportunity to gain 12-months of paid employment in a nature job.
New to Nature Trainees were paid a competitive wage while gaining valuable hands-on experience in the environmental sector, allowing them to support themselves financially and providing a stepping stone towards a fulfilling career.
More than 80 organisations, including WWF-UK, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and more, hosted Trainees – committing to hiring young people from diverse backgrounds.
Trainees received support through employment coaches who helped them navigate any challenges of the workplace and provided encouragement and careers advice. Host organisations were supported to ensure the workplace was accessible through training in areas such as Disability and Neurodiversity awareness, Cross-Cultural Communication, Intersectionality and Disability Confidence Training.
Groundwork continues to support the 98 Trainee Graduates by connecting them with their peers from around the country and building professional networks that we hope will support them as they progress in their careers. Groundwork have recently secured additional funds from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver a programme of activities during 2025 for the people who participated in New to Nature.
Resources
Visit our Resource Hub for employers to learn about inclusive recruitment and creating an accessible workplace, including practical resources.
Reports
Read about the impact and learnings from the programme, including full reports and case studies written by external evaluators.
Blogs
Read the Trainees’ reflections on entering the nature sector and their career journeys in their own words.
Force of Nature
The Force of Nature campaign asked for the environmental sector to do more to create accessible pathways into green careers.
Meet the Trainee Graduates
The New to Nature peer group includes 98 people, with each member going on their own unique, personal journey. Read some of their stories.
Meet the Host Organisations
More than 80 environmental organisations created year-long trainee placements and pledged to guarantee inclusive recruitment practices and accessible working environments. Many organisations maintained the employment of their Trainees after the programme – and associated funding – ended.
Support Us
Groundwork works with communities across the UK to deliver lasting social and environmental change. We are a charity that relies on people power to deliver our mission to combat the climate and nature emergency, improve health and wellbeing and improve access to learning and work opportunities.
We are always seeking new, exciting partnerships in order to fund vital Groundwork delivery and community action activity, like New to Nature.
By working with – or making a donation to – Groundwork, you or your organisation will play an integral role in ensuring our mission to help people and nature thrive in communities across the UK is a reality.
We have worked with many incredible partners over the years delivering projects of all scales across the UK. Get in touch to find out how you can too.
Who’s behind New to Nature?
New to Nature was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the King’s Coronation. The programme is delivered through a partnership of Groundwork, The King’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, Mission Diverse and the Youth Environmental Service.
