The Minister for Early Years, Stephen Morgan MP, who also leads on sustainability at the Department for Education, has officially become the UK’s 1,000th Climate Ambassador. This marks a major milestone for a programme already making waves across the East Midlands.
The Climate Ambassadors scheme, created by the University of Reading and supported by £2 million in government funding, connects climate and sustainability experts with schools and colleges, offering free, practical advice to support the development of Climate Action Plans.
After completing his training on Tuesday 8th April, Minister Morgan said:
“The Climate Ambassadors programme is a vital part of our strategy to empower schools and educators in tackling the climate crisis, and I’m proud to be joining over 1,000 volunteers to support schools in developing and delivering their climate action plans.”
Supporting Schools Across the Region
Here in the East Midlands, local Climate Ambassadors are already making a big impact. Research Fellows Katie Parsons and Josh Wolstenhome from Loughborough University have been working with several schools to guide their climate efforts.
Katie said: “Working with the Climate Ambassadors Programme has given us the opportunity to connect with so many diverse and inspiring schools. Just a few weeks ago, we supported the Bradgate Education Partnership, working with 18 academies, in developing their climate action plans.
“The programme has also helped us engage with brilliant initiatives like the National Education Nature Park. Collaboration is key to addressing the climate crisis, and this scheme enables just that—helping schools take meaningful steps towards a more sustainable future.”
Climate Action in Every School
As part of the government’s wider Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, all schools and education settings in England have been asked to develop Climate Action Plans. These plans aim to cut environmental impact and are built around four core areas—known as the ABCD of climate action:
- Adaptation to climate risk
- Enhancing and measuring Biodiversity
- Improving Climate Education and Green Careers guidance
- Driving Decarbonisation of school buildings and operations
Free support is available through a range of national programmes. These include the Education Nature Park, Sustainability Support for Education Hub, and Let’s Go Zero.
Real Voices, Real Impact
Stephanie Gilliver, Head of Responsible Investing at Virgin Money, also recently became a Climate Ambassador. Speaking from experience as a full-time working parent, she said:
“I work full time, have two children and a house that doesn’t clean itself… Why would I want to add to my spinning plates by volunteering?
“But anyone who volunteers knows why. It’s enriching, rewarding, and it brings fresh perspective. For me, it’s about making a local difference in the face of a global challenge. When I heard about the Climate Ambassadors programme running through STEM Learning—my hand shot up. I was in.”
About the Programme
Climate Ambassadors is delivered by a national consortium led by the University of Reading and EAUC. In the East Midlands, the Universities for Nottingham partnership acts as the regional hub, offering tailored support to schools and colleges across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland.
Since launching in 2022, the programme has trained over 1,000 Climate Ambassadors. They have worked with more than 1,600 schools, which is around 1 in every 15 education settings in England.
Whether through mentoring, workshops, or sharing expertise, Climate Ambassadors are embedding sustainability into the heart of education. In the East Midlands, the movement is growing stronger every day
Click here for more details of the East Midlands scheme: https://universitiesfornottingham.ac.uk/environmental-sustainability/climate-ambassadors/