Making a Difference: How Charley Supports Climate Action in York Schools
Posted on Sunday 9 November 2025
Charley Clayton, a dedicated Biology student at the University of York, is using her passion for sustainability to make a real impact in the local community. Alongside her studies, she volunteers as a Climate Ambassador, supporting a York primary school to take meaningful action on climate and biodiversity.
Charley first signed up to the Climate Ambassadors scheme in 2024 via the STEM Learning platform. As part of joining, she received a free DBS check, training and resources, as well as tailored support from the Yorkshire and Humber Hub at the University of Leeds.
In early 2025, Charley was paired with Fern Catt, a teacher at Carr Infant School in York, who wanted support in developing and delivering the school’s Climate Action Plan. Fern said:
“Charley and I started discussing the Climate Action Plan over emails and she also came into school to meet with me. She was really encouraging, knowledgeable and armed with lots of resources.”
Charley was equally inspired by the school’s enthusiasm:
“When I went into school to meet with Fern, I was really impressed with what they were already doing, for example taking part in the RSPB Big Bird watch and making bug hotels. We thought about how these actions related to the four pillars outlined by the Department for Education for Climate Action Plans.”
By the end of the school year, their collaboration had resulted in a Climate Action Plan for the school. Looking ahead, Charley hopes to support Fern in securing a £5,000 grant from the National Education Nature Park to boost biodiversity in the school grounds.
For Charley, being a Climate Ambassador has also created powerful links between her studies and her volunteer work: “It’s interesting to see the social implementation of my academic knowledge and skills. Last year I completed a project looking at stakeholder involvement in ecology; my role supporting Fern has given me a real-life experience of this.”
Climate Ambassadors scheme
The Climate Ambassadors scheme offers so much more than volunteering. For students, it’s a chance to:
- Apply academic learning to real-world projects.
- Gain training and experience that enhance employability.
- Engage meaningfully with the local community.
- Contribute to tackling global challenges at a local level.
Charley sums it up best:
“Participation with the Climate Ambassadors scheme is a wholly rewarding and worthwhile experience. Actively contributing to local biodiversity and climate education is so important given the current global environmental challenges, and the Climate Ambassadors platform enables us to do this in a really collaborative and supportive way.”
Want to make a difference too?
The Climate Ambassadors scheme is open to all passionate people who are eligible for a DBS check including University of York staff and students, no matter your subject or level. If you’re passionate about sustainability, education, or simply want to do something positive in your community, this is your chance.
To find out more, email the Yorkshire and Humber Hub at climateambassadors_yh@leeds.ac.uk, or complete the expression of interest form.
