Climate Ambassadors volunteers honoured as scheme extended

More than a thousand trained volunteers who have helped schools tackle climate change have been recognised for their roles in the Climate Ambassadors programme, which has received new government funding.

Created by the University of Reading in 2022, the Climate Ambassadors scheme will receive £1.9 million of extra fundingfrom the Department for Education so volunteers who have received dedicated climate education training can continue to provide schools with free climate advice up to October 2027. 

The announcement was made at an event to celebrate the programme last week (Wednesday 3 December) held at the University of Reading’s Great Hall to mark the programme’s achievements, including successfully linking volunteers with more than 10,000 nurseries, schools, colleges and SEND settings.

Speaking at the event, Professor Parveen Yaqoob, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “Universities aren’t simply places where knowledge is stored. They’re places of discovery, debate and leadership. We have a duty not only to understand the realities of climate change, but to respond to them — in the research we carry out, in the education we offer, and in the way we run our own campuses.

“What I value about the Climate Ambassadors programme is that it brings all of this together. It shows what happens when research, teaching and real-world action meet, underpinned by a commitment to supporting the next generation.

“For young people today, climate change isn’t an abstract concept — it’s the backdrop to their future. They expect their education to help them navigate that future with confidence and creativity. When we embed sustainability into the heart of what we do, we’re giving them more than knowledge. We’re giving them a sense of agency; a belief that they can help shape what comes next.”

Charlotte Bonner, Climate Ambassadors Co-Lead from Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, said: “We’ve gathered tonight not just to mark a milestone, but to pause, reflect, and celebrate together. In a time of tightening finances, shifting education policy, growing climate urgency and rising pressures on institutions across the sector, it can be easy to lose sight of quiet progress. But that’s exactly why this moment matters. Celebrating what we’ve achieved isn’t indulgent: it’s vital. It reaffirms our shared purpose, strengthens our resolve, and recognises the dedication behind the work – recharging our batteries.

“And we have a lot to celebrate. In Phase 1 of the Climate Ambassadors Programme we saw real movement. Climate action plans are taking root across nurseries, schools, colleges and specialist settings. Our gap analysis and evaluation work now give us a far clearer picture of where progress starts, and what remains to be done.”

Celebrating volunteer ambassadors

The Climate Ambassadors celebration event brought together the people and partnerships that have made the scheme a success, from national and regional teams to volunteers, educators, and supporting organisations. More than 100 attendees also heard from a minister about what new funding will enable the programme to achieve in the coming years. 

Attendees heard a performance from a children’s choir featuring 30 primary school pupils from 25 schools within the Reading and Wokingham area. 17 of these schools have already received support from Climate Ambassadors or sister projects like Let’s Go Zero, National Education Nature Park, and Sustainability Support for Education. The choir performed a song written specifically about the Climate Ambassadors programme.

Find out more about the Climate Ambassadors programme. Read:  

Climate Ambassadors is delivered by a national consortium of the following organisations led by the University of Reading and the EAUC. Each region in England has a regional hub which provides free support to education settings in their area: 

The national team also involves Change Agents who lead on training and mentoring and STEM Learning who provide the digital infrastructure through the STEM Ambassador programme. The 1,100 Climate Ambassadors have already engaged with more than 2,500 education settings.