Pathways to Participation

Full project title: Pathways to Participation

Duration: 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029

Project lead for CESR: Professor Laura Fogg-Rogers

Other UWE Bristol researchers:

• Dr Louisa Cockbill
• Greg Harris
• Sarah Behenna

Research partners/collaborators:

• The Centre for Sustainable Energy
• UK100
• Bristol City Council
• Swindon Borough Council
• Wiltshire Council
• Dorse Council

Funder: National Lottery Community Climate Action Fund

UWE Bristol is evaluating the Pathways to Participation Project, led by the Centre for Sustainable Energy. Pathways to Participation is a three and a half-year project designed to empower young people across the South West to lead meaningful community climate action, influence local decision making, and shape long-term systems change.

Designed by a consortium of youth organisations, local authorities, and a research partner, the project will embed youth voices into climate strategies and develop nationally replicable models for youth participation in climate action. At its core, it unlocks action by and for underrepresented young people, particularly those excluded from traditional climate spaces due to structural disadvantage, through outreach, skills-building and co-design.

Young people are central to every community yet are often left out of climate decisions. Prioritising their voices ensures the fund supports inclusive, intergenerational, and locally rooted climate leadership. 

• Empowering communities to take climate action: Youth-led working groups will design and deliver action locally, linking climate solutions with what matters to young people. 
• Reaching those furthest from climate conversations: The project focuses on youth from disadvantaged, rural, and minoritised communities through partnerships with trusted grassroots youth organisations. 
• Creating lasting, scalable impact: A youth participation model will be co-designed and tested, then shared nationally via UK100’s network of over 100 local authorities. 
• Inspiring others: Youth-led storytelling and digital content (e.g. podcasts, videos, social media campaigns) will amplify local voices and inspire broader community action. 
• Changing systems: Through direct collaboration with councils and community climate leaders, young people will shape local priorities and build platforms for strengthened youth influence on climate long after the project ends.

UWE Bristol is engaged in the project to develop an adaptable blueprint bringing together project learnings and identifying the key principles and ingredients such as funding, partnerships, partners, and policy to support replication elsewhere. 

• Evaluation report on Pathways to Participation Model (forthcoming)

For further information about the project, please contact Professor Laura Fogg-Rogers (laura.foggrogers@uwe.ac.uk).