Ready to grow your confidence, build your skills, and make change in your community? Applications are now open for the Green New Deal Rising Leadership Programme 2026!
We’re looking for 40 young people from around the country to join our fully-funded training programme – running from October to December this year.
Whether you’ve been involved in campaigns before or you’re completely new to organising, we’ll support you to develop practical skills, meet other young people from your area, and get ready to take action together.
Across online sessions, local meet-ups, and a residential weekend away, you’ll build confidence, friendships, and experiences that last beyond the programme.
Who can join?
It doesn’t matter what job or qualifications you have – all you need is curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn. The programme is free to take part in, and support is available to help remove barriers you might face to participation.
The Leadership Programme is designed for young people whose voices often don’t get heard. You’re encouraged to apply if you’re a person of colour, from working class or migrant background, disabled, or are unemployed.
To apply you must also:
- Be aged 16-30
- Live in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, East London, or Manchester
- Be available to attend in person training sessions
- Be passionate about changing the world around you!
How do I join?
To join the programme you need to register your interest on the quick form below (or via this link). One of the programme organisers will then contact you to share the application form where we’ll ask you to answer a couple of short questions (you can answer these via writing, voicenote or video).
The deadline to apply is Wednesday 9th September.
FAQ
From October to December 2026. You must be available to attend a training weekend from Friday 6th November (evening) to Sunday 8th November (afternoon).
There are four main parts to the programme:
- A short online welcome session – this will happen via Zoom and will be an opportunity to learn more about the programme and meet the rest of the participants
- A local meet-up – this will be in-person in your city and will last 3-4 hours. It will be a chance to meet the other people in the programme who live near you, and you’ll get some training in some key skills together
- A residential weekend (6th-8th Nov) – everyone in the programme will travel to stay together for a weekend of training, socialising and planning – this will run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon
- Taking action – in your local groups, you’ll work together to plan and do an action in your community
After completing this programme you will graduate and we will celebrate with a short online celebration and ceremony on Zoom!
Yes, this programme includes an opportunity to travel for the residential training weekend which will take place in Yorkshire. We will pay for all travel costs and support with bookings and any accessibility needs you have.
No, the programme is fully-funded and free to participate in. We will also pay for all travel, food and accommodation.
Yes! We encourage people to apply with a maximum of four other people, as long as you’re all living in the same city and all meet the criteria.
These are cities where our movement is already active and working to make change happen. We chose them so that after you graduate from the programme there will be clear opportunities to stay involved.
If you don’t live in one of the programme locations but are nearby (within 30 minutes) and willing to travel, you can still apply to join but we may give preference to people living closer.
Yes! However, this is an opportunity for us to support new leadership, so please apply only if you meet the criteria and you’re not already one of our most active volunteer leaders.
You need to be able to commit to attend all the meet-ups in the programme. In between these events, you’ll be asked to complete a few tasks that can be completed flexibly and around your schedule.
