Joseph’s Story
Joseph’s mum tells us how The Green Team has helped him find his place in the world.
Joseph’s years of school struggle were explained by a diagnosis of autism when he was 11 years old.
School became increasingly difficult during this time with everything being exacerbated by health issues.
Deciding to home educate was a decision we had to make and we are so thankful that we have had The Green Team and its wonderful staff alongside Joseph.
The Green Volunteers was the first group activity that Joseph tried, 18 months after coming out of school. I took him to see a talk by Simon Reeve who used the phrase ‘less screen time more green time’, which Joseph repeated in the car on the way home.
I’d known about The Green Team and was waiting until he was ready and after this inspiring evening, I felt things had shifted.
The first step
David who runs Green Volunteers kindly met with Joseph before his first day to tell him a bit about what to expect. It was tremendously helpful to have that meeting. They enjoyed visits to Bonaly at first which wasn’t too far from home, and he built up to going further afield to places like the Borders. It took a few months to managing a full day but now he doesn’t miss a weekend.
Over the last year there has been a complete transformation. Because Joseph has felt so valued for his contribution, his knowledge and his real genuine interest in nature, animals, rewilding and the wider world, he has found a place where he can feel comfortable being himself.
Soon after starting Joseph was asked to become part of the Youth Panel. I was amazed when he accepted. Nature has been his passion from he was very young. The morning I dropped him off at the Youth Panel, he walked into the Risk Factory with a spring in his step: another real turning point.
“After a day with The Green
Team I feel really happy and
accomplished; I look forward to
the next one straight away.”“I love going to the more remote places
and seeing wildlife like birds of prey,
cool dragonflies, frogs and toads. We
saw a badger when we went camping
and I’m really looking forward to our trip
to see beavers with Changemakers.”
More milestones
The December 2025 Awards Ceremony was another highlight of Joseph’s wonderful year. He was very proud to go up and collect 3 awards, including the Young David Attenborough Award! Hearing later that he danced at the ceilidh after the ceremony was wonderful as this is something he previously would not have enjoyed.
Finding your tribe makes such a difference in all our lives and I know Joseph has found his in The Green Team.
So thank you wonderful Green Team and David Hughes for the positive impact you make to the environment and to our young people.
