Who are BTO Youth?

BTO Youth was founded in December 2019, when we set up the Youth Advisory Panel. These days, BTO Youth consists of a whole host of different teams and people who all work together to bring BTO Youth’s vision to life, as well as work as part of the wider BTO strategy.

Fionnuala at the BTO Youth in Nature Summit (front left).

Youth Advisory Panel

The YAP are responsible for decision-making when it comes to young people at BTO and our Youth Engagement Programme.

The Panel consists of young people aged 16–25 from all over the UK. They meet regularly to discuss projects, strategy, and programmes of work.

Meet the YAP

Youth Representatives

The BTO Youth Representatives are an essential part of BTO’s wider Youth Engagement Strategy. They are all aged 16–25 and based across the UK.

They organise events online and in their local communities, especially for young people.

Find your Youth Rep

Youth Trustee (on BTO’s Board)

Our current Youth Trustee Emma Thornton is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to connect with nature and science, particularly around improving mental health.

She is excited to bring a young person’s perspective to the Board.

Meet Emma

The BTO Youth Team

Our staff consists of a dedicated team of people at the BTO who support YAP and the YRs in delivering their work.

Faye Vogely

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Faye Vogely

Youth Engagement Manager

Chris Marais

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Chris Marais

Youth Engagement Coordinator

Rachael Griffiths

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Rachael Griffiths

Youth Engagement Officer

Our values and vision

BTO Youth’s vision is of a diverse, vibrant community of young birders supported by BTO, with accessible, youth-led opportunities inspiring young people to engage with nature and science.

We are:

Inclusive and accessible
Youth-led
Celebrating people’s connection to nature

Helping people grow
Innovative and dynamic
Collaborative and transparent

Our strategy

At BTO Youth, keeping young people safe and empowering their voices is at the core of all we do. The BTO Youth Engagement Strategy 2023–2028 is written and implemented by the Youth Advisory Panel. It focuses on our values and how we will make sure everything we do is guided by them.

2023–2028 Youth Engagement Strategy