Future Leaders Course

Inspiring the next generation of National Park change-makers

The New Perspectives project, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a two-year project to engage more young people with the National Parks movement.

As part of the New Perspectives project we’re pleased to introduce the Future Leaders Course. This is for young people aged 20-30 (inclusive), who want to make a difference – for National Parks, landscapes, nature and people. The course has been developed with young people and focuses on supporting you to advance as a next generation leader and change-maker.

Our experiential course includes practical skills, such as storytelling and communications; theoretical skills such as leadership styles and team working; a focus on equity and social justice for all and a reflective course of activities to inspire future leaders. The course will provide the opportunity to hone these skills and put them to practice influencing National Park decision makers. Through the course, you will learn in some of our most amazing landscapes, supported by a peer group of like-minded brilliant young leaders, and learn from some of the most effective change-makers in the UK today.

Applications for the next course are now open and close Sunday 23 February.

Everything you need to know about the course

You can download the Future leaders course information pack below which includes everything you need to know about the course and the link to apply.

Information pack (1.03 MB)

Hear from our past participants

In October 2024 we kicked off our first Future Leaders Course in the stunning Dartmoor National Park.

Watch now

The course at a glance

Is this course for you?

You may be a young professional working in an NGO or a National Park, you might be a young activist or campaigner, you might volunteer or regularly spend time in National Parks or it might be you just love them and want to develop your skills to protect them. There are many reasons why this course might be right for you! If you want to chat this through, please don’t hesitate to join our drop-in sessions online or email the team – info@cnp.org.uk. The application process includes completion of an application form online. After the closing date applicants will be shortlisted and those successful on shortlisting will be invited to an informal interview before we allocate places.

Phase 1: The residential retreat

The programme will start with a weekend residential in the Yorkshire Dales National Park on 1st-3rd April where you will meet your fellow future leaders from across the environment sector. You will work collaboratively and independently to nurture your leadership core skills and experience. The residential will be hosted by leaders from Campaign for National Parks and across the nature and landscapes sector, supported by a specialist leadership coach and facilitator.

Phase 2: Skills into action – online collaboration

Following the residential, the programme will evolve depending on the group’s vision and the stories you wish to tell and/or campaigns you want to create. This may be to work collectively to develop some campaigning activity for and on behalf of Campaign for National Parks or to work individually as champions for Campaign for National Parks in your area. We’ll provide additional training and skills opportunities virtually and events will be hosted for participants to attend.

Phase 3: Future leadership in action

There will be further opportunities for participants to take part and put your leadership skills into practice. We’ll also provide a pathway to develop your National Park ambitions and networks with opportunities both at Campaign for National Parks and with the partners of the project including local National Park Authorities and Societies.

Supporting your application

This course is an opportunity to accelerate skills and for young people ambitious to make change happen – whether personally or professionally and we want to help you develop those skills. We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse Campaign for National Parks, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of nature-rich National Parks for everyone. We know people of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled/neurodiverse, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us at info@cnp.org.uk to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

How to apply

Please download and read through the information pack above carefully, you will then need to fill in the application form (you can’t save your progress so you will need to complete the application in one go). We will ask you questions about yourself and your travel plans, and three questions to find out more about why you want to come on the course.

Those questions are:

Tell us what you hope to learn on the course, and how this would make a difference in your
life (e.g. personally and/or professionally). Max 250 words.
Who is a leader or change-maker who inspires you, and why? Max 250 words
If you could create a mini-campaign or influence for change in National Parks – what would
it look like and why? (Max 250 words)

If you’d rather record a video of yourself answering these questions, you can do so and email the video to info@cnp.org.uk. You will still need to fill in the rest of the application form online.

The deadline for applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 23 February 2025

Application form