At the Green Team we are passionate about supporting young people to find their place in nature. Spending time outdoors as a child or young person produces a life-long love of nature and the natural environment. We believe every child has a right to these positive outdoor experiences and we run programmes of activities which help them do so.

For some it’s the opportunity to take part in an environmental volunteering project, making practical improvements to local parks and woodlands. Or just enjoying spending time outside engaging in nature, having fun floating mini rafts down a river.

For others, it is the opportunity to use nature for personal development: building resilience, confidence and relationships, exploring risk, undertaking learning and developing new skills.

And for everyone it’s the opportunity to spend time with others outdoors, feeling a sense of satisfaction and achievement, making new friends and enjoying the peace and calm of greenspaces.

We are proud that our programmes support both environmental and personal development goals. As a small charity, we couldn’t do it without the help of some amazing volunteers, partners organisations, funders and fundraisers. Their efforts make a huge difference to the young people we work with. Young people like Anna:

I surprised myself by doing a lot more than I thought I could. I had a great time taking part in all the activities and meeting new people.

We are a registered charity working in and around Edinburgh. If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you.

The People behind The Green Team

The Team

Penny Radway
Penny RadwayCEO
Jamie Leitch
Jamie LeitchBusiness Development Manager
Jo Walton
Jo Walton Admin and Communications Officer
Mandy Craig
Mandy CraigVolunteer Co-ordinator
Kate Hedges
Kate HedgesThrive Programme Co-ordinator
Kate Wilkinson
Kate WilkinsonGreen Shoots Programme Co-ordinator
Margon Van Tuyl
Margon Van Tuyl Green Schools and Communities Co-ordinator
David Hughes
David HughesGreen Volunteers Co-ordinator
Sarah Waterfield
Sarah Waterfield Skylarks and Green Explorers Co-ordinator

The Youth Panel

The Youth Panel operates as an advisory group to the Board of Directors. It comprises a variety of young people of different ages who have been involved in our programmes. The Youth Panel provides feedback, ideas and opinions and provides the Board with the views of young people.

Our Patron

In February 2009 the Green Team Board appointed the first Green Team Patron, Peter Wright.

Peter began his career in Youth Work and Community Education going on to become the Manager of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Unit in the City of Edinburgh from 1989-2007. He co-founded Youth in Trust – now the National Trust for Scotland Conservation Volunteers, and Thistle Camps.

Peter set up the Green Team in 1995 to offer an environmental opportunity to those taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. He also helped to establish the John Muir Award and is founder and president of Friends of the Award (FOTA). The Peter Wright Outdoor Learning Hub at Newbattle Abbey College, is so named, in his honour.

In 2005 Peter was awarded an MBE for services to disadvantaged young people and The Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Peter chats about green spaces and mental health with Iona Randall

Our Board

Hamish Wood
Hamish WoodChair
Janet Forbes
Janet ForbesTreasurer
Lisa Talbot
Lisa TalbotCompany Secretary
Levi Fletcher
Levi FletcherBoard Member
Haaris Waheed
Haaris WaheedBoard Member
Mairead Murray
Mairead MurrayBoard Member
Keith Mackey
Keith MackeyBoard Member
Wendy Brown
Wendy BrownBoard Member
Julie Ellam
Julie EllamBoard Member
Lorna Street
Lorna StreetBoard Member
Gavin Crosby
Gavin CrosbyBoard Member
Anne Marte Bergseng
Anne Marte BergsengBoard Member

Our Funders

We are only able to run our programmes because of the financial support that we have received and continue to receive from funders and donors – our thanks goes out to them all.

Should you wish to find out more about funding the Green Team, our funders or our fundraising policy then please contact our Business Development Manager, Jamie:

The Green Team takes its responsibilities around funding very seriously. We take reasonable and proportionate measures to ensure the work or activities of any funder has no clear and significant negative impact upon the vision, mission and values of the Green Team.

While we are grateful for all funding that we are offered, acceptance of funding does not imply an endorsement of the work or activities of a funder.

We are grateful to have received grant funding for our current work from:

Findlay Charitable Trust

The Nancie Massey Charitable Trust

Ronald Miller Foundation

The Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh

The Rhododendron Trust

WM Mann Foundation