Growing Futures: Co-Designing Nature-Based Pathways to Wellbeing, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Employability for Young Adults

About the project

About the Project About the project Young adulthood is a key transition into further education, training and employment. For many young people, particularly those facing disadvantage or non-linear educational and employment journeys, traditional approaches do not offer the flexibility, support or opportunities they need to thrive. Across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, community partners have identified the need for more inclusive education and training pathways, better transitions into employment, and opportunities that reflect young people's aspirations. Evidence suggests that nature-based activities, including horticulture, conservation, environmental education and citizen science, can improve wellbeing, confidence, social connectedness, environmental stewardship and employability-related skills. Previous research by members of the team has shown the wellbeing benefits of these approaches in socio-economically disadvantaged communities, and the importance of equitable access to green spaces. Despite growing interest in green social prescribing and green skills, little is known about how community-based nature interventions can support employability among young adults, or how these benefits come about. This PhD project will work with young people, community organisations, education providers and environmental partners across Leicestershire to co-design and evaluate nature-based approaches that support wellbeing, environmental stewardship and pathways into education, training and employment. The research has three phases. First, a systematic review (a structured search and summary of existing research) will bring together the evidence on nature-based interventions and employability among young adults. Second, young people, university students and community stakeholders will use participatory and co-design approaches to design locally relevant interventions that reflect their priorities and aspirations. Finally, the project will pilot and evaluate nature-based activities in community settings across Leicestershire, exploring how they influence wellbeing, confidence, employability and progression into education, training or work. The project will generate an evidence-informed, transferable framework for using community green spaces and local environmental assets to improve opportunities for young people. This project has been co-created with and is supported by researchers from the University of Leicester and De Montfort University, and partners at Willow Fields Farm CIC. The successful candidate for this project will be enrolled at the University of Leicester. Project Aims and Objectives The project objectives are: To examine the evidence on how nature-based interventions can support young adults' wellbeing, employability and environmental engagement. To co-design inclusive and locally relevant nature-based employability approaches with young people and community partners. To evaluate how nature-based interventions influence wellbeing, confidence, employability and progression into education, training or employment, and explore how these outcomes are achieved. To develop a transferable framework for using community green spaces and local environmental assets to support young people's pathways into sustainable employment and the green economy. What is Collaboratory? Collaboratory is a research programme, led by Universities for Nottingham and the Leicester Universities Partnership, that places community knowledge and experience at the heart of research. This eight-year initiative is pioneering a new approach to collaboration, working closely with local communities and community-focused organisations to develop and deliver research that addresses the needs and priorities of local communities. Who are we looking for? Collaboratory aims to bridge the gap between academia and communities through a holistic programme of co-created research that actively embeds public groups within its research. As we strive to establish an innovative approach to conducting PhD research, we seek candidates who can demonstrate a deep knowledge of and commitment to Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland and communities. Prospective candidates should demonstrate the extent to which they meet the project competencies, detailed in the full advert on the Collaboratory website. How to Apply Applications to all Collaboratory 2027 PhD studentships must be submitted through our online applications portal. It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants attend one of the online support sessions, prior to submitting their application. Full details of the Collaboratory programme, studentship funding, eligibility criteria and link to the application form can be found on our website at collaboratoryresearchhub.ac.uk/2027-studentships. Applications open at 11am on Monday, 5th October 2026 and close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, 29th November 2026.

Research areas