Introducing POW UK Changemakers

8th June 2026

This week, POW UK Changemakers - a new programme built to give 18 to 29-year-olds the tools, confidence, and crew needed to take real, hard-hitting climate action.

We know the deal. As young people, you're the ones inheriting the worst impacts of the climate crisis, yet getting access to straightforward, no-BS climate education is still way harder than it should be. We know you care deeply about the future of our planet and the outdoor playgrounds we love, but knowing exactly where to start, how to get a foot in the door of the green sector, or how to speak up without feeling like an imposter is tough.

But real action starts with getting connected and cutting through the noise. To break it down, three legends from the POW UK community are sharing exactly why getting clued up on climate is the ultimate first step to making a massive difference.

Gill Rosh

Gill is an absolute force at the intersection of climate action, inclusion, and the outdoors. Bringing that trademark New Yorker hustle, she’s spent her career shaking up the industry across both brands and NGOs - including a former stint right here with Protect Our Winters Europe.

Right now, she’s doing the heavy lifting at Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO), rallying brands and Changemakers to smash barriers and make the outdoors a space where everyone actually belongs. Over at Picture, she’s the one making sure the brand walks the walk, keeping the house in order for their upcoming B Corp recertification. When she’s not pushing the outdoor industry to do better, you’ll find her getting after it on skis, slowly but surely trail running through the French Alps, or recharging by knitting blankets.

"My journey with POW started over 10 years ago. My first experience was marching with POW US and Patagonia at the 2014 People’s Climate March in New York City. From there, POW has supported, and pushed, me along my climate journey.

My next defining moment with POW came when I bumped into Dom Winters, Head of Advocacy, at Blue Earth Summit in 2022. We got chatting about why climate conversations can be difficult, niche pieces of legislation, and, of course, time spent on the hill. It felt so good to connect with someone from POW that I threw myself into an opportunity I barely understood at the time: becoming a Carbon Literacy Trainer for POW UK.

Now, more than three years into being a Trainer, I can confidently say it has transformed my own confidence and the confidence of participants. I’ve delivered training to employees, adults, young people, and ski instructors. Here’s what I see time and time again:

Validation goes a long way. Sometimes people simply need confirmation that what they are seeing is real: snow seasons are changing and summers are getting hotter.

People gain the confidence to have conversations. Not only do they have the facts to back themselves up, they have the interpersonal skills and human understanding to have a conversation (not a fight!) with someone. This is an underrated skill.

People realise change is possible. Through the training, participants learn about different levels of action and where they can make a difference.

There’s a particular kind of transformation that happens with young people. Many of us can feel disempowered because of our age and frustrated that we’ve inherited a problem we didn’t create. The Carbon Literacy Course is a space to understand all that and move forward from it so we young people can build the world we want."

Kieron Tang

Kieron is an outdoor instructor, ski coach, climber, and POW UK Youth Ambassador who has basically made a lifestyle out of dodging desk jobs.

A solid part of the POW crew, he’s supported projects across the UK and Europe, and even helped run grassroots events in New Zealand and Japan to connect mountain communities over climate action. With family roots in Hong Kong, Kieron is super passionate about representation. He's all about breaking down barriers and making sure the spaces we ride and climb are actually welcoming for everyone.

When he’s not officially on the clock teaching people how to ski or climb, you’ll find him chasing storm cycles, mapping out his next trip, or finding any excuse to stay out in the elements.

"My connection to POW UK comes from a long-standing relationship with the outdoors and a desire to protect the spaces. Started from my partnership as a university ambassador to representing POW in Europe, New Zealand, and the UK. The connection to the outdoors has shaped how I see climate action. It is not separate from my daily life. It sits inside it.

Carbon Literacy Training gave me something practical to hold onto. It broke down the science behind climate change and gave me language and tools I can actually use. That matters. A lot of young people care deeply but feel stuck between fear, information overload, and not knowing what action looks like in real terms. The training turns that uncertainty into clarity and confidence.

My understanding of events like ChangeNOW comes from following the conversations and outcomes that come out of it. It highlights the scale of innovation already happening in climate spaces, from policy to technology to grassroots action. At the same time, it also exposes a gap. Young people are still underrepresented in the rooms where decisions are made and how futures are shaped. That gap is visible in the outdoor sector too, where representation is not equal, and voices from marginalised communities are still missing. As a person from a minority background working in the outdoor field in the UK, that stands out clearly. Inclusion is still not where it needs to be.

POW UK Changemakers matters because it brings knowledge, community, and practical tools together. Young people are constantly surrounded by fear-based messaging around climate change. It can feel overwhelming and disempowering. At the same time, endless consumer culture pushes habits that are difficult to step away from. The result is a generation that cares but often feels stuck. This program can help turn that into direction. Climate action does not need to cost more. Many changes reduce spending as well as impact. That matters at a time when young people are dealing with rising costs and pressure in daily life.

We are more divided now, but climate is a shared issue. It cuts across backgrounds, careers, and identities. When young people are given access to education, community, and opportunity, they are better equipped to lead change in their own spaces and shape a future that reflects them."

Adam Raja

Adam is POW UK’s Marketing Manager and living proof that the outdoors can completely rewrite your script. Growing up in inner-city Glasgow, his daily view was concrete, not mountains. But after a rough start that took his journey from youth offender to climate advocate, discovering the outdoors changed absolutely everything.

Today, he’s using that lived experience to make sure the climate movement isn’t just an echo chamber for the privileged. Adam is fiercely passionate about inclusion, knowing firsthand that the first step to effective climate action is making sure everyone actually feels welcome and seen.

When he’s not behind the scenes steering POW’s campaigns and making noise for the cause, you’ll find him making up for lost time in the mountains and doing everything he can to hold the door open for the next generation of changemakers.

"The POW UK Changemakers initiative is one that’s close to my heart. Growing up as a young man in inner-city Glasgow, it wasn’t mountains on the horizon - it was concrete. And that concrete was a breeding ground for social issues that shaped the trajectory of my life for the worse.

But my saving grace was the outdoors. The experiences I had in and around the mountains were nothing short of transformative. I have never looked back, and the profound impact they had on my life created a deep drive to preserve these places, ensuring others can experience that same connection.

My journey from youth offender to climate advocate hasn’t been an easy one. It’s been a steep climb, and at times, I’ve struggled to find my footing. Coming from a marginalised background into a space often dominated by privilege is tough.

But one thing I have learned is that the first step toward effective climate action is inclusion. The more people who feel welcome, seen, and confident enough to step up, the stronger our movement becomes.

That’s exactly what POW UK Changemakers is all about - giving others the tools and confidence to speak up with confidence and be heard. You deserve a seat at the table as much as anyone else. No matter where you’re starting from, progress happens by putting one foot in front of the other. I believe this programme can be a crucial stepping stone for many young people, and I am so excited to see where it takes you."

Step Up Changemaker

The climate movement isn't just for politicians or scientists - it's for all of us. But to actually protect the places we ride, run, hike, and explore, we need to make sure everyone has a seat at the table, no matter their background.

That is exactly why we built POW UK Changemakers. We are arming 18 to 29-year-olds - especially those from marginalised backgrounds - with accredited Carbon Literacy Training - for free with zero catch.

We want to help you flip climate anxiety into serious, tangible action. This isn't about just talking; it's about giving you the communication chops and practical skills to shake up the status quo in your community, your workplace, and your local area.

We need fresh perspectives to drive systemic change. If you're tired of sitting on the sidelines, sick of feeling stuck, and want to learn how to make an actual impact alongside a community that gets it, we've got you.

Ready to turn that stoke into systemic change? Check out the POW UK Changemakers programme and find out how you can get involved today.

Learn more here.

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