As the 21st March approached for the Youth for Green Jobs launch we became swept up in in the nuts and bolts of policy, climate change communications, social media strategy and events organising. And whilst these are all crucial components, launch day had a certain poignancy as a time for reflection. We want to share our story so far:
In the beginning…
“After having helped the Youth for Green Jobs grow from a seedling of an idea into a 
fleshed out campaign with a gorgeous website. I was excited to see the culmination of many days of hard work resulting in a successful launch. On the day I settled myself in front of the computer to take in the events of the day, tracking the budget online and subsequent news. At 1pm, our tweeting hats on, many people all across the country, including myself, asked the various governmental departments to do the most important of things: communicate.” Chris K
“The launch of our Youth for Green Jobs campaign last week was the culmination of many months’ work, and it was great to see it all come together. Only a few days earlier I had been interviewed by an online climate news hub about the campaign and it really helped me to realise the potential of this campaign: tapping into broader worries about unemployment on budget day sent a strong message to the government that young people are ready and willing to work for the future we need.” Luke
On the day…
“Myself, a comfortable sofa and a laptop formed the hub of the Youth for Green Jobs online launch. With the website going live, photos coming in from the dole queue event, the budget announcement, our press release statement views on the budget’s content, a twitter action, and the ability for new supporters to email their MP about green jobs – it was a day that was shared and retweeted not only by partner organisations but by youth as well.” Simon
“Preparing for my first campaign launch with UKYCC dominated my thoughts last week – and I’m pretty sure I even started dreaming about being on Skype with the rest of the team! Getting our message across that Green Job creation to help unemployed youth find meaningful, sustainable work was key, and in my pre-budget blog I was conscious of always offering a positive, viable alternative to Osborne’s dubious commitment to both young people and the environment.” Louisa
Looking to the future…
“There was a real buzz about the morning of 21st March. It was a strange feeling – my fears and anticipation of disappointment associated with budget day were somehow tempered by the optimism, excitement and hope I get from working with UKYCC. As I stood in the ‘dole queue’ outside Downing Street, asking where my green job was, I was acting out my own real-life situation, and that of so many other young people who are ready to make a better world. But this time, I wasn’t waiting for someone to offer me a solution and a way out – my journey didn’t end at the job centre. I was coming together with others so that we could begin to generate our own alternatives. ” Izzy
“Seeing the plethora of organisations and people joining the ‘dole queue’ including Caroline Lucas MP I had the feeling that a movement really does exist for change. The day proved to be a great photo opportunity and hopefully will serve as a demonstration to 
young people in the UK that things can happen and that employment can be meaningfully coupled with environmental protection.” Geoff
“Standing in the ‘dole queue’ outside Downing Street our green hard hats stood out quite literally but for me they also stood out figuratively as a symbol of the positive changes that can and will take place and the role the Youth for Green Jobs Campaign will have in this.” Fran
To find out more about the campaign please explore our website, to read our response to the budget itself see here, and to become a part of the campaign email your MP and ask them to get the Treasury, the Department of Work and Pensions and the Department of Energy and Climate Change to collaborate to make Green Jobs accessible to young people across the country.