Beyondly and YDMT Partner to Build Green Futures Across Yorkshire

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) is a small charity in the heart of the countryside who work to conserve and restore the precious habitats, landscapes and wildlife of the Yorkshire Dales.

Through their Fund for Change programme, Beyondly donated £20,000 to YDMT’s Green Futures project in 2025/26, supporting connections between natural landscapes and young people. The project aims to tackle inequalities and barriers to nature access, whilst improving health and overall wellbeing through spending time in nature and encouraging young people to take climate action through immersive conservation activities.

As Beyondly’s second consecutive year supporting YDMT through their Fund for Change initiative comes to a close, we are delighted to share the valuable impact their project and our funding has had:

Youth Outreach Project: Creating Pathways to Nature

Over the past 12 months, 937 connections were made with young people through YDMT’s Youth Outreach project – providing inspiring experiences and practical skills to those who would not usually get the opportunity to connect with nature, helping to improve physical and mental wellbeing, and meet new friends.

Sessions included tree planting, cave visits, farm visits, willow weaving, walks to beauty spots across the Yorkshire Dales, and woodland activities such as building campfires and campfire cooking. The project has allowed young people a chance to engage with issues impacting their local community environments, providing access to locations that are directly affected by environmental issues, and developing their confidence to influence change.

Youth Environment Forum: Inspiring the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders

YDMT delivered 907 contact hours to 26 active members of their Youth Environment Forum throughout the year; running activities including farm visits, tree planting, quarry visits, employability sessions, and a Spring residential.

The Trust also held their Annual Youth Summit back in October 2025. Centred on ‘finding a tribe’,  the successful forum brought together 16 young people from across the region to enjoy a weekend of sharing ideas, exploring environmental issues, as well as hands-on workshops and activities. You can read more about YDMT’s Annual Youth Summit and what the group got up to here.

Rural Apprenticeship Scheme: Opening Doors to Rural Employment

Beyondly’s Fund for Change grant has also supported the delivery of YDMT’s Rural Apprenticeship Scheme which allows young people to gain experience and personal development opportunities with employers across the Yorkshire Dales, developing their skills and opening doors to employment prospects in the rural community.

9 young people started their apprenticeships in March 2025, and a further 8 in October 2025; beginning their Level 2 Countryside Worker qualifications at Craven College, and 18 months of valuable work experience with local employers such as Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Conservefor, Ribble Rivers Trust, Make it Wild and Swinton Estate.

Of the 9 apprentices who completed their apprenticeships in March, 6 went straight into employment – a true testament to the valuable work and impact YDMT has on the lives of young people and the local community. One of the apprentices, who completed his Countryside Worker Level 2 End Point Assessment with a Distinction and has been offered a permanent position following his 18-month placement, shared: “The help the YDMT has given me has changed my life in many ways and has given me the opportunity to start a career, as well as giving me skills and experiences that will help me throughout the rest of my life”.

It is brilliant to see the amazing work YDMT continue to do, and we are proud of the impact Beyondly’s Fund for Change has had in making this possible. Each year, Beyondly commit to donating 5% of their net profit to charitable projects, with the donation made to YDMT just one part of a £200,000+ funding Beyondly donated in 2025/26 towards charitable causes and community projects delivering impact on society and the planet.

Applications for Beyondly’s 2026/27 Fund for Change are open until 31st August, with decisions on selected charities made by 30th September. Click here for more information on the initiative and how to apply.