BTO Youth began in December 2019 with the launch of the Youth Advisory Panel. Since then, it has grown into a network of teams and individuals working together to bring BTO Youth’s vision to life while contributing to the wider BTO strategy.
Youth Advisory Panel
The Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) plays a key role in shaping BTO’s Youth Engagement Programme, ensuring that young people have a voice in decision-making.
Made up of 16–25-year-olds from across the UK, the Panel meets regularly to discuss projects, strategy, and future initiatives.
Youth Representatives
BTO Youth Representatives are a vital part of BTO’s wider Youth Engagement Strategy.
Aged 16–25 and based across the UK, they help connect young people with nature by organising events both online and in their local communities.
Youth Trustee
Our current Youth Trustee, Emma, is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to connect with nature and science, with a particular focus on mental health.
She’s excited to bring a young person’s perspective to BTO’s Board.
The BTO Youth Team
A dedicated team at BTO supports the Youth Advisory Panel and Youth Representatives, helping them bring their projects and initiatives to life.
Jo Goodfellow
Youth Engagement Manager
Chris Marais
Youth Engagement Coordinator
Rachael Griffiths
Youth Engagement Coordinator
Samuel Levy
Youth Engagement Support Officer
Our values and vision
BTO Youth’s vision is of a diverse, vibrant community of young birders supported by BTO, with accessible, youth-led opportunities inspiring young people to engage with nature and science.
We are:
- Inclusive and accessible
- Youth-led
- Celebrating people’s connection to nature
- Helping people grow
- Innovative and dynamic
- Collaborative and transparent
Our strategy
Written and led by the Youth Advisory Panel, the BTO Youth Engagement Strategy 2023–2028 sets out our values and ensures they guide everything we do.
Youth Advisory Panel Alumni
- Sorrel Lyall January 2020 - December 2020
- Conor John January 2020-June 2021
- Emily Cooper January 2021 - December 2022
- Ellie Micklewright January 2020 - December 2022
- Arjun Dutta January 2020 - December 2023
- Elizabeth Fitzpatrick September 2021 - December 2023
- Matt Lonsdale January 2020 - April 2024
- George Rabin September 2021 - December 20244
Youth Representative Alumni
- Joe Parham January 2021 - July 2021
- Mark Pitt January 2021 - December 2022
- Soha Salem January 2022 - December 2022
- Belinda Betts January 2021 - June 2023
- Kier Chauhan December 2020 - December 2023
- Maria Farooqi December 2020 - December 2023
- Kate Fox December 2020 - December 2023
- Gethin Jenkins-Jones December 2020 - December 2023
- Carla Hill December 2021 - June 2024
- Holly Bassett August 2023 - September 2024
- Amy Fleming August 2023 - September 2024
- Emily Deeming December 2021 - September 2024
- Sian Mercer December 2020 - October 2024
- Hannah Westhenry June 2021 - October 2024
- Jasmine Canham December 2021 - November 2024
Contact us
Email us
If you’d like to find out more about what we do and how to get involved, drop us a line: youth@bto.org
Find us on social media
Subscribe to the BTO Youth Newsletter
Stay up to date with everything BTO Youth: subscribe to our email newsletter.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Email us to find out more about completing your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award volunteering with BTO.
