A space for young people to face the crisis together
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.
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 mentoring. 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.
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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 mentoring, 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 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.
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.
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.
Choose your membership rate
As a young member, you can join at the Reduced Rate of £5.00 per year (42p per month). If the reduced rate feels out of reach, get in touch, we'll work something out.
Sign up
Complete the online membership form.
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.
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.
