Volunteers needed for School Climate Ambassador Scheme in Dorset

Are you passionate about climate action, biodiversity, and sustainability?

The Department for Education’s (DfE) Climate Ambassador Scheme is calling for volunteers in Dorset to help schools, nurseries, colleges and multi academy trusts become greener and more climate resilient in line with the DfE Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.

The scheme, funded by the DfE and supported regionally by the Met Office Southwest Hub, connects volunteers with educational settings to support them in reducing carbon emissions, tackling climate risks, and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.

Climate Ambassadors come from a wide range of backgrounds—including education, business, government, and the third sector—and bring expertise in areas such as sustainability, biodiversity, energy, planning, and climate resilience. Volunteers are matched with schools based on their interests and experience to help develop and implement tailored climate action plans.

Activities may include:

• Providing strategic advice on the development of climate action plans
• Giving talks and workshops
• Organising community projects like tree planting or beach cleans
• Advising on biodiversity and decarbonisation strategies
• Providing resources and ongoing support

All volunteers receive free, flexible training—typically around three hours—to prepare them for their role and ensure they can effectively support schools in their climate goals.

Cllr Ryan Hope, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement, said:
“Helping youngsters to learn how climate change is impacting their planet is one of the goals of this exciting £2 million initiative. With the Climate Ambassador scheme, nurseries, schools, and colleges will all have free access to support to become greener and more climate resilient.

“We hope to recruit many new Ambassadors in Dorset for this vital project.”

Find out more about the scheme online.