A space for young people to face the crisis together

Sunset over white chalk cliffs and the sea

Join a community where your perspective shapes the work, and where being new to this field is a strength, not a barrier. CPA offers psychological understanding, practical support and shared learning.

Two young people talking on a park bench

Hear from our young members

A short video featuring young members on why they joined CPA and what it's meant to them.

Video coming soon

What young members do at CPA

Young members shape CPA from the inside, running their own group, contributing to research, organising events, and building the kind of intergenerational community that rarely exists elsewhere in this field.

Here's what that looks like in practice:

  • The Student and Young Members Group. Monthly meetings bring young members together to share what they're thinking about, support each other, and plan work within CPA. This is where you'll find your closest peers.

  • Intergenerational Exchange Programme. Young members have the chance to be paired with experienced CPA practitioners to exchange learning, ideas and experiences.

  • Contributing to decolonising agendas. Young members are active in CPA's decolonising and antiracism working group, bringing new perspectives to ongoing conversations about whose climate crisis we're addressing and whose voices have been missing.

  • Publishing your work. Young members write for Explorations in Climate Psychology (CPA's bi-annual journal), and share research or creative work through CPA's platforms.

  • Running and attending events. Young members contribute to CPA's events programme, and get involved in shaping training, workshops, and support spaces for other young people.

  • Voting and governance. As members, you can vote at the AGM, attend Board meetings, and stand for election to CPA's Board of Directors.

Why join CPA as a young person or student?

Caring about the climate crisis can feel lonely, especially when you're also trying to navigate education, early career, or the strange reality of training for a profession that doesn't yet know how to respond to what you're seeing. CPA exists partly because practitioners doing this work need each other.

Here's what membership offers:

  • Peers who get it. You'll be part of an intergenerational community who take the climate crisis as seriously as you do and who want to talk about it honestly. There are plenty of opportunities to connect with like minds through intergenerational exchange, socials, networking and events.

  • Strengthen your voice in the climate justice movement. CPA recognises that young people are disproportionately impacted by the climate emergency. Your perspective and contributions are a central part of our work in advocacy.

  • Build the skills, confidence, and network for your career. Whether you're studying psychology, training to be a therapist, working in climate science, or doing something else entirely, at CPA, you can access the training, ideas, and experiences that will shape the next stage of your journey.

  • Shape CPA itself. Because CPA is a Charitable Community Benefit Society co-owned by its members, you have a real say in how the organisation is run.

Looking for support, not membership?

If you're a young person looking for support around climate or eco-distress, rather than community membership, we have dedicated spaces for you too. Or perhaps you’re looking for both - that’s fine too.

Youth-specific support offerings:

  • Youth Support Spaces and training - regular facilitated spaces for young people offering warm care, deep listening, and tools for resilience.

  • Therapeutic support through CPA's directory of climate-aware practitioners.

Find support for young people
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Some young people find that coming to a support space first is what opens the door to joining as a member. Others join straight away. There's no right order.

How to join as a young member

Joining CPA as a young person or student is straightforward, and affordable.

Join here
1

Check you're eligible

You're welcome to join as a young member if you're aged 16 to 25, or if you're a student of any age with an interest in climate psychology. You don't need to be studying psychology or training as a therapist, anyone with genuine interest is welcome.

2

Choose your membership rate

As a young member, you can join at the Reduced Rate of £9.60 per year. If the reduced rate feels out of reach, get in touch, we'll work something out.

3

Sign up

Complete the online membership form.

4

Get welcomed in

You'll be invited to CPA's online community hub and to the Student and Young Members Group. New member welcome sessions run regularly to help you find your feet.

5

Get involved

Join the group. Come to events. Read Explorations in Climate Psychology. Ask questions. Bring your own work, care and curiosity. You decide how much to do and when.

Testimonials

What young members say

“I really enjoy being able to connect with other young people who also experience complex climate emotions in a safe space where I feel seen and heard.”

Young member

"Really appreciate the easy and broad access to opportunities, resources and networks - thank you!"

Young member

"Being part of the young members group changed how I see my place in the climate movement. I'm not alone anymore."

Student member

"As a student, I worried I didn't know enough to belong here. Instead, I've been welcomed in, mentored by practitioners with decades of experience, and trusted to bring my own perspective. It changed how I see my place in this field."

CPA young member

Trainee counsellor

Ready to take the next step?

Wherever you are with all of this there's a place for you here.

Find out more about CPA membership