Meet our YES Trainees

Meet our YES Trainees

Meet Rhona and Saul our new YES Trainees!

They joined The Green Team’s YES Programme at the beginning of March and will be with us until October 2026. YES, the Young Environmental Stewardship programme is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

As YES trainees, Rhona and Saul work 21 hours a week and earn the Real Living Wage. They are involved in supporting the YES programme delivery, including our recently launched Green Changemakers and Forest Foundation programmes.

Throughout their YES traineeship, they will gain a wide range of in-house, hands-on and practical training in:

• Leading and supporting outdoor sessions with young people aged 11–25
• Planning and delivering practical nature conservation and rewilding projects
• Group facilitation, event support, and nature-based leadership
• Championing youth voices and action for the environment

A flying start

The YES traineeship includes training, practical fieldwork, and leadership development, with opportunities to contribute to residentials, celebration events, and more.

So far Rhona and Saul have been busy! They’ve been out and about with field trips including Green Changemaker visits to see the Red Kites at Argaty and a short residential. Rhona has also been supporting the first Forest Foundation programme with St Thomas of Aquin’s here in Edinburgh.

 “It’s been a really crazy ( in a good way ) first 4 weeks. There has been so much to learn and I’ve been out with so many groups – I’ve learnt so many different things already …. I’m really looking forward to hearing people’s thoughts and ideas about nature and protecting it ” Rhona

Saul is enjoying his traineeship too and is looking forward to gaining new skills and  experience

 “I have really enjoyed my first 4 weeks with the green team. Thanks to the induction process I’ve always known what I need to do and where I need to be and all the staff have been very welcoming and supportive.”

“I’m looking forward to working with different groups and gaining new skills with each session.”

Growing our future leaders

Mandy Craig The Green Team’s Volunteer Coordinator is supervising our YES Trainees and is also really enjoying the programme,

“ Our Trainees have got off to a great start. Everything is new and every day is different. They are becoming more confident already. The Green Team and the YES Programme is a wonderful opportunity for growing these future leaders.”