People&PlanetCampaignTrainingProgramme

People & Planet are launching a FREE 10-week climate and migrant justice campaign training programme at 15 UK universities in 2026.

Are you passionate about climate and migrant justice? Keen to gain campaign skills and develop an understanding of how change works in your university? Then join us for our free campaign training and volunteer opportunity! It will take place across 10 weeks between 2 February and 7 April 2026 at the following universities:

• Falmouth University
• Harper Adams University
• Leeds Arts University
• Leeds Beckett University
• Lincoln Bishop University
• Middlesex University
• Teesside University
• Kingston University
• University of Plymouth
• University of Derby
• University of East London
• University of Hertfordshire
• University of the Highlands and Islands
• University of Sunderland

Apply now!

What is the training programme?

The 10-week training programme is shaped around People & Planet’s Fossil Free and Divest Borders campaigns, which aim to get all UK universities to divest from (stop investing in) the fossil fuel and border industries.

Why the fossil fuel industry?

The fossil fuel industry is unequivocally driving us towards a global climate crisis, and already, we're seeing extreme weather events having massive effects on those least responsible for it. Meanwhile, extractive industries force people off their land, crack down on local resistance, and profit from that wreckage.

Why the border industry?

As climate breakdown forces more and more people to flee their homes, states are militarising borders and creating ever more hostile environments for migrants. The border industry includes companies that are profiting from the misery inflicted on migrating people - whether it be through surveillance, detention centres or deportations.

What is the demand?

We need to stop the fossil fuel industry from wrecking the planet, and the border industry profiting from violence. That's why our ethical investment campaigns demand that UK universities stop funding and supporting them.

More than two-thirds of UK universities have now committed to divest from fossil fuels and six are now also leading the way having divested from the border industry. We want to support you to encourage your university to be the next name on our victory list!

The students’ unions we’ve teamed up with to advertise this opportunity are at universities which have yet to divest from the fossil fuel and border industries, or have not yet committed to never doing so in the future.

When is it happening?

The programme begins 2 February with an introductory welcome call with our Campaign Manager, and ends 7 April with an online evaluation form.

Where is it happening?

To make it as accessible as possible all workshops and support will be provided virtually. This will include access to our programme-specific website, an introductory workshop on Zoom, and sometimes over the phone for informal one-to-one campaign support and strategising. We also have opportunities during the programme for you to build support and momentum on your campus and can come visit to help you with this work!

Why should I apply?

The programme is designed to offer you a unique opportunity to build campaigning skills and professional development, assisting entry into the campaigning and charity sector. Throughout the programme, you will build a wide range of campaigning skills including, but not limited to: undertaking campaign research, working alongside elected representatives to secure change, navigating governance structures, designing and delivering campaign strategies and lobbying decision makers. People & Planet will also support references for future job applications for those that complete the programme and provide a certificate upon completion.

Following the programme, you will also have opportunities to stay involved in the People & Planet student campaign network. This includes being able to help shape and take part in our national Day of Action in May, as well as receiving a free ticket to our national annual student activist gathering and training weekend in July - Power Shift!

How will it work?

The campaign training programme is designed to be undertaken alongside studying and has clear milestones and tasks from week to week - each lasting between 30 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes. This will allow you to get a feel for what campaigning involves in a time-bound way, and will provide you with a diverse range of skills that will be beneficial across the course of your working lives.

Check out the proposed timetable:

WEEK	ACTIVITY
1	Welcome call
2	Introductory campaign workshop
3	Creating a campaign petition
4	Getting support from the student union and trade union
5	Group check-in
6	Campaign development/ campus visit from People & Planet
7	Campaign development/ campus visit from People & Planet
8	University outreach
9	121 Check-in with People & Planet
10	Campaign review

What will be expected of me?

This programme has been designed to fit around you! You can complete the weekly task whenever works best for you and around any commitments or responsibilities you may already have. The only week where we’d expect you to join us to at a certain time is the introductory workshop: 9 February, 4-5.30pm on Zoom. If that's impossible for you to make but you’re really keen to get involved, then let us know in the application form under “anything else you’d like us to know?” and we can explore if we might be able to create an alternative option.

Apply now!

Closing date for applications: Midnight on 21 January 2026