# Co-op Foundation commits £2.4 million to green job opportunities for young people

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/10/13/co-op-foundation-commits-2-4-million-to-green-job-opportunities-for-young-people/
- Published: 2026-10-13T13:38:57+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Co-op Foundation has announced a £2.4 million Green Opportunities Fund to 
help young people in the UK into green jobs and careers. The fund is financed by
sales of Co-op’s [compostable carrier bags](https://www.coop.co.uk/environment/carrier-bags),
together with money from the Foundation itself.**

The announcement is backed by the Foundation’s research with young people. It found
that 59% of those who had heard the term “green job” could not explain what it meant,
and 46% had not heard of green jobs in education. At the same time 72% see Net Zero
as an opportunity. The Foundation links the fund to the wider youth employment challenge,
with nearly one million 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training,
according to [GOV.UK figures](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-people-and-work-interim-report/young-people-and-work-interim-report).

## The first funded partners

 * **Touch of Love Outreach** (Aberdeen)
 * **KRIMMZ** (Bolton): Green Futures for Girls, reaching 150 young women
 * **Comics Youth CIC** (Merseyside): a two-year programme with the Environment 
   Agency
 * **Oasisplay** (London): converting go karts to e-karts
 * **Adra Tai Cyfyngedig** (Gwynedd): Camu i’r Copa, and the Tŷ Gwyrddfai Decarbonisation
   Hub
 * **CAN GROW** (Ballymoney): Lislagan Farm, an 11-acre site
 * **Landworkers’ Alliance** (UK-wide): a three-year campaign

The MCS Foundation is contributing £25,000 towards each of two of the grants, those
to Touch of Love Outreach and Adra Tai Cyfyngedig.

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> Heather Thomas, Property and Sustainability Director at Co-op Group, said:
> > “Nearly one million young people in the UK aged 16 to 24 are not in education,
> > employment or training, according to the latest government data, and too many
> > in our communities tell us they don’t know what green jobs are, let alone how
> > to work towards one.
> > “That’s why we’re investing in practical partnerships, yielding opportunities
> > that are accessible, visible and help young people build skills, gain experience
> > and connect with employers.

Nick Crofts, CEO of the [Co-op Foundation](https://www.coopfoundation.org.uk), also
commented:

> “We know from our research that young people care about climate action and want
> to learn more about jobs in sustainability and the green economy, which is why
> targeted funding such as this is so important.
> “At a time when the jobs market is so difficult for young people, we’re proud 
> to fund partners who are leading the way in supporting young people and developing
> a valuable talent pool for the future.”

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