Igniting Innovation: conservation challenge

Igniting Innovation is an exciting nature conservation challenge that invites passionate young people to share their brightest ideas for a healthier planet. This is your chance to bring a real project to life with funding and expert support. 

Applications for 2025 are open. Apply now! 

With climate change on everyone's doorstep, woods and wildlife are under threat. So we're joining forces with the next generation. With your help, we're finding new ways to boost biodiversity and support woods and wildlife in the fight against climate change. 

What is the challenge?

We are offering six to eight individuals or small groups aged 16-25 a chance to develop and deliver projects that will help nature.

Your idea could:

• win project funding up to £6,000
• get up to 12 months mentorship from experienced conservation experts. 

If your idea is one of 18 to be shortlisted, you'll be invited to a unique training session to build your confidence in standing up for nature and making a good pitch. Six to eight finalists will be selected to pitch their project in person for a chance to make their project a reality. 

On top of helping secure the future of woods and wildlife, your project with us can even kick-start your career in conservation. Get real industry experience and improve your CV or university application all while helping the planet. 

We want this programme to be as accessible as possible. We welcome projects of all kinds, whether they are small or large scale, short or long term, local or national. If you have an idea but face barriers to taking part, please email the youth team who will be happy to discuss options with you.

So, what makes a good idea?

Entries will be judged by four main criteria:

• Innovation. You will be judged on how innovative and creative your idea is.
• Impact. The more directly impactful your idea is for woods and wildlife, the more we'll want to support it. Can your project help create healthy woods, protect valuable habitats or inspire others to nurture the environment? 
• Feasibility. We want you to dream big, but it has to be doable. Each project will be judged on the practicality of its journey from idea to real world application within the delivery time span.
• Research. What need or problem is your idea solving? What evidence do you have to back up your pitch? Demonstrate that you have identified a real, existing issue and show how you think your idea will creatively solve this problem.

What's next?

Step one: apply!
Outline your idea and how you think you can make it happen using the application form. 

Step two: shortlisted applicants are invited to training
The top 18 applicants will be invited to take part in online workshops to help refine the details of your project, boost your pitch and bring your ideas to life. This is your chance to meet like-minded people and get expert help to build your confidence and skills. 

Step three: video pitch
18 shortlisted applicants will submit a video pitch. Nervous to be on camera? Don't panic - we're looking for good ideas over bold performers! We're here to support you, so talk to us if you have any concerns. We’ll then select the final six to eight applicants to go to the final.

Step four: the final
Having worked on your idea and confidence with our expert support, you could be one of the finalists invited to a face-to-face event. Here we'll celebrate your achievements and you'll finally pitch your environmental project to a small audience and panel of celebrity judges. Prize money is allocated from a £20,000 pot, according to the needs of each project. The judges have the final say on the financial backing offered for your project. The prize money can be between £500 and £6,000.

Key dates

• Application deadline: 9am on Monday 20 January 2025.
• Round two applicants shortlisted and informed by: 5pm on Monday 10 February 2025.
• Loudspeaker training (online): 9am-12pm on Saturday 15 February 2025.
• Round two video deadline: 9am on Monday 10 March 2025.
• Finalists selected and informed by: 5pm on Monday 31 March 2025.
• London final: 9am-5pm on Saturday 10 May 2025.

Apply now using our application form. 

For further information, please see our full terms and conditions.