Future Forum:
Facilitating collaboration on youth priorities within the environmental movement.
The idea for the Future Forum came from two of SOS-UK's previous youth representatives, Jodie Bailey-Ho and Jamie Burrell. It was their ambition that the Future Forum would bring together youth representatives and senior leadership from every leading climate and wildlife charity in the UK to discuss how the sector can better engage and empower young people.
The Future Forum is powered by the commitment of;
British Trust for Ornithology, Chester Zoo, Ernest Cook Trust, Field Studies Council, Friends of the Earth, GenEarth, Groundwork, The #iWill Movement, RSPB, SOS-UK, Woodcraft Folk and ZSL
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Organisations who join the initiative nominate two young people from their youth boards, a youth engagement manager and a member of senior leadership to sit on the Forum. It is not possible for only youth representatives, or only a senior leader, to join the Future Forum as the Forum exists to build collaboration between senior leaders and young people within and outside their organisations.
The Future Forum convenes, supports and mentors the young people, helping them organise themselves into project groups, ensuring they are fully prepared for meetings with CEOs and senior leadership.
The group are currently piloting a Youth Voice Framework, a set of criteria developed by Forum members to define best practice for youth participation, and are auditing all participating organisations against it.
Lisa Hoerning
Current Future Forum Chair
The Future Forum is a unique space where the changemakers of today meet the changemakers of tomorrow. We break down age and experience barriers by creating an environment where sharing, brainstorming, and collaboration can happen on equal, relaxed, and inclusive terms.
As Chair, I’m especially motivated to ensure this collective not only unites influential organisations around the very stakeholders we are all working for - the next generation - but also cultivates genuine community: one that encourages friendships, peer-to-peer support, and strengthens our collective focus on widening diversity of voice and participation.
Ed Ikin
Chief Executive - Ernest Cook Trust
Future Forum is a powerful space, bringing together young environmental campaigners and decision-makers, a place where you need to be honest and willing to act.
The first thing you feel in Future Forum is urgency, that action is as important as policies and promises. The Ernest Cook Trust wants to work with young people, to harness their energy and urgency, to shape decisions about learning, training and land use.
Latest updates
Project Manager:
Jessica Amaral- jessica.amaral@sos-uk.com