Give back to the places you love
Whether you choose to fundraise, donate or volunteer, there are lots of meaningful ways to help look after the places in our care for future generations.
Opportunities for young people
International Youth Day is a time to focus on young people and how you're helping build a better future. Together, we can make a stand for nature, beauty and history, preserving them for future generations.
Thousands of young people are already taking action to care for the historic places, coastline and natural landscapes we look after. As a charity, we're working to empower more young people in the work that we do. So, if you're interested in conservation, wildlife, history or nature, find out how to get involved below.
Apprenticeships
You can learn new skills while getting paid on one of our apprenticeships. Roles tend to run from September onwards and can include work as a nature and wildlife ranger, in IT, horticulture or project management.
They’re open to everyone and offer paid, work-based learning that will set you up for a career in the cultural heritage sector and beyond.
Volunteering
From beach cleans to event support, gardening to room guiding, there’s a huge variety of ways to volunteer with us. Meet new people, develop your skills and make a difference to a cause you care about.
You can also volunteer as part of a Duke of Edinburgh's Award, with opportunities at bronze, silver and gold level. This could mean getting your hands dirty with outdoor work, guiding people round a historic place or helping at an event.
Empowering our young staff and volunteers
Re-Generation Challenge Group
The Re-Generation Challenge Group (RCG) is a vibrant youth network made up of our staff and volunteers aged 16–30. United by a passion for change, they work across the organisation, collaborating on projects that amplify young voices and shape our future from the inside out.
For example, some of the group attended the 2024 Youth in Nature summit in Cambridge. They explored how young people can effect change in the environmental sector, alongside young representatives from the RSPB, WWF and British Trust for Ornithology.
As part of the Re-Generation Challenge Group, there's something genuinely inspiring about joining other passionate young people to advocate for progress and challenge the organisation together. It was great to join the new strategy development sessions and see the positive influence we had.
A quote by Corinne WhiteleyNational Trust Co-chair of Re-Generation Challenge Group
Young Trustees Traineeship
Since 2024, we've also teamed up with the Young Trustees Movement to offer our Young Trustees Traineeship. This programme helps 15 staff and volunteers aged 18–30 to apply for trustee roles at other organisations.
Currently, less than 3 per cent of charity trustees in England and Wales are aged under 30. Growing the number of young people in these roles is key to ensuring young voices are represented in organisational decision-making.
Young person’s membership
If you’re still getting to know us and you’re aged 18–25, why not take advantage of our reduced rate membership for young people?
It's available at £48 for a whole year, which is half the price of individual membership for those aged over 25.
Every penny helps us to preserve nature, beauty and history, plus you’ll be able to explore more than 500 places in our care for free, including parking.
Activities and experiences at the places in our care
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Top free places to visit
Did you know that many of the places we look after are free to access? Find some of the best places for a budget-friendly day out.
Outdoor music, theatre and film events
Be entertained in the great outdoors with an event at a place near you. Bring popcorn to watch outdoor cinema, listen to music under the stars, or watch an open-air theatre production held in historic surroundings.
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Best beaches for surfing
For experienced surfers or those learning, we've picked out the best beaches where you can catch some waves in the UK.
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LGBTQ+ histories at the places we care for
Learn more about the LGBTQ+ people with connections to the places we care for and why highlighting their stories is important.
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Where to go forest bathing
Forest bathing is a mindfulness practice developed in Japan that has gained popularity in the UK. It involves being immersed in nature and using sight, smell and touch to slow down the mind and relax.
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Nature reserves
We look after some of the UK's most important nature reserves. Visit a nature reserve near you and discover a wide range of wildlife and plantlife.