On the 26th of August, the East Lothian Climate Hub were delighted to host ELCAN members to the Willow Room at Cockenzie House as part of our regular co-working events for a special discussion.
The focus of this meeting was youth engagement.
We are regularly reminded that East Lothian’s youth cares deeply about climate and nature. Through community events and projects like the 2040 East Lothian-wide vision and Learning for Sustainability the network is regularly addressing climate action for youth audiences.
How do we ensure the next generation isn’t just watching the climate change, but feels they are listened to and able to shape local action for a sustainable future?
This meeting was prompted and supported by ELCAN work experience Annabelle Nelson, who reaffirmed that to build a resilient future, we must embed youth voices into our work from the very start.
Reframing the Conversation: From Anxiety to Action
One of the most recurring themes of the discussion was the reality of “climate anxiety.” While often discussed as an individual burden, members discussed were interested in shifting that focus toward community connection. Instead of leaving young people to process these concerns in isolation, we want to provide avenues for agency.
One of the more easily realised actions could be building specific youth engagement events into existing climate action projects.
The goal isn’t to overwhelm, but to empower. By creating spaces for connection – whether through hedgerow planting, community gardens, or local environmental audits – we can turn concern into meaningful, hands-on engagement.
Meeting Young People Where They Are
With over 100 member organisations, the ELCAN network is a broad network. A “one size fits all” approach to engagement often misses those most in need of connection.
Formal schooling and resources like the Sustainable Learning Network are a great starting point, but there is a significant gap for those outside the academic sphere. Musselburgh-based members the Bridge Project highlighted this fact. There are plenty of young people, not in formal education, who are wanting to engage with their environment and nature.
To reach everyone, we must look toward:
- Hands-on Learning: Moving away from jargon (which might be a disconnect for some) and toward practical, tangible activities like waste audits and nature-based outings.
- Expanding Horizons: Sometimes the most formative experiences are the unfamiliar. Using community transport and local events to take young people outside their familiar environments and into the heart of nature.
- Inclusive Programming: Ensuring our spaces and events are designed with neurodiversity and accessibility at the forefront.
Opening Doors to Green Futures
Climate action isn’t just about conservation. It’s about our hopes for the future, and the future of work already looks very different for young people in East Lothian.
We discussed the vital need to link young people with a growing landscape of “green jobs”.
The Learning for Sustainability network has already helped create a directory of volunteering and work experience opportunities. However, there is a chance to have more focus on jobs and employment opportunities
Whether that’s in structured work experience placements, climate literacy training, or showcasing local initiatives at a Green Futures Festival, we want to ensure that a sustainable future is a prosperous one.
We envision a future where young people see a clear pathway from local climate action to meaningful, skilled careers in renewable energy, community development, and beyond.
Co-working at Cockenzie
We’d love to have more of these conversations with ELCAN members on the topics that matter in East Lothian. Our monthly co-working space is the perfect place for this.
From now on we’ll be hosting a monthly drop in meeting on topics like youth outreach or active transport, as a place to raise issues and find solutions with the network. We’ll be publishing a schedule of topics soon.
We’d love to hear if there’s a topic you’d like to bring to the network. Email us at hello@eastlothianclimatehub.org with suggestions and we’ll look to work it into the programme.
Either way you’re welcome to our next co-working event, held on the fourth Wednesday of every month.
