Who
we are

What’s on this page:

Our team

  • Billy Knowles

    PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

    Billy is the programme director at YES. His role is to coordinate the different strands of work, collaborating with experts and organisations to help build the vision, evidence and long-term support for a Youth Environmental Service.

    He brings with him a decade of experience developing new programmes and initiatives, across both public and private sector. He has helped set up an innovation function at one of the worlds’ biggest brands, taught human-centred design at an international bank, and helped develop new digital services for local governments across the UK.

  • Jess Clynewood

    HEAD OF DELIVERY

    Jess is the Head of Delivery at YES. Her role is to shape and develop the next pilot, creating 50 new YES placements in the environmental sector. This pilot will demonstrate the programme’s viability and potential, paving the way for it to scale nationwide by 2030.

    She brings 15 years’ experience of community leadership, sustainable land-management and collaborative project design. In her previous roles, she has been Co-director of a City Farm, set up an award-winning community business, designed market gardens and developed training and skills courses across a variety of community and collaborative settings. She is a trustee of Bristol Food Producers.

  • Lauren St.Aimee

    COMMS LEAD AND
    PROGRAMME SUPPORT

    Lauren is the Comms Lead and Programme Support at YES. Having started at YES as a trainee through the New to Nature programme, following her interests her role has transitioned to have a communications focus. Her primary responsibility is to communicate the impact of the programme and raise awareness and understanding of our work to our key audiences.

    She is also pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies from The Open University, where she has acquired interdisciplinary knowledge on diverse environmental issues.

Programme Board

We are also supported and held accountable by a programme board with expertise across a number of different spheres.

This is currently comprised of:

Fiona Godlee (Chair)
Ex-editor of the BMJ

Beth Brook
Chair, Blue Cross UK and former CEO of Heart of England Forest

David Fell
Director, Brook Lyndhurst

Dr Martin Moore
Director, Centre for the Study of Media, Communication & Power, KCL

Oci Stott
Climate Action Advisor, Let’s Go Zero

Peter Stewart
Executive director, The Eden Project

Dr Robin Stott
Ambassador, UK Health Alliance on Climate Change

Youth Advisory Committee

Since November 2021, a group of fantastic and passionate young activists have been meeting on a monthly basis to help shape the design of the Youth Environmental Service.

Each month a different member chairs the meeting, discussing a range of topics, from the kinds of work that should be included through to the importance and challenges of creating an inclusive and accessible programme.

We are always looking for more passionate young people to join our committee on a rolling basis! If you’re interested please reach out to contact@youthenvironmentalservice.co.uk

Meet some of our committee…

  • Alana Wheat

    I believe that the power of youth is crucial for our future on this planet.

    I’ve researched community climate and environmental action with young people for my Masters dissertation and wanted to bring that expertise to help guide the early footsteps of YES.

  • Harry Grosvenor

    Harry is a PhD researcher using state-of-the-art climate models to reconstruct Indian Ocean climate during periods of the Earth’s past warmer than those observed today. How the Earth’s climate system acted in periods warmer than the modern is vital in understanding, mitigating and preparing for our likely future.

    Harry lives and breathes the ocean environment. All this, despite experiencing a major stumbling block as a child, being told he could not pursue his dream career as an orca.

  • Lillie Aissa

    Lillie Aissa is an ecological storyteller working to bridge the gap between culture and nature. Through writing, filmmaking and events, she empowers underserved communities to be part of the environmental conversation.

    Working with WWF-UK, Slow Ways and the Garden Musuem, Lillie’s work has spanned from food systems to reimagining urban nature. She is a climate speaker with Environmental Funders Network, championing the unique perspectives of inner-city diaspora youth in her work.

  • Finty Royale

    Finty is a medical student and campaigner working at the intersection of climate change and healthcare. She advises the Association for Young People’s Health, in 2021, stood as a Green Party candidate in her local elections and leading up to COP26, produced a series of poems and graphics for Climate 2050, exploring these ideas.

  • Luke Hawkins

    Hey, I’m Luke and I’m a naturalist and aspiring wildlife presenter. As I spend time connecting with the natural world, I often come face-to-face with the harm people inflict on the environment. Yet I am increasingly hopeful.

    I am inspired by the tide of support from other young people, and the power of working together with nature. YES is the kind of initiative that justifies my optimism; I love being part of it and can’t wait to see where it goes.

Our network

The Eden Project

The Youth Environmental Service is being incubated within The Eden Project. While we operate independently, having the support of a leading environmental organisation has allowed us to hit the ground running, and we’re able to draw on world-leading expertise in environmental education and engagement.

The Eden Project is an educational charity and social enterprise that aims to create a movement that builds relationships between people and the natural world.

You can find more information on The Eden Project on their website.

Our funders

We’re incredibly fortunate to have the support of a wide range of fantastic partners, including: