Matthew Sellar is a Policy and Engagement Coordinator at Hope for the Future, a Scottish democratic engagement organisation focused on amplifying community voices in climate and environmental policy. With a lifelong commitment to climate activism, Matthew began as a youth campaigner around UN climate talks and has since worked with grassroots groups, national NGOs, and underrepresented communities to strengthen participation, collective leadership, and democratic influence.
His work emphasises empowering ordinary people to shape policy, particularly on climate and environmental issues, while acknowledging intersections with socio-economic challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis. Matthew leads the A Future for All project in Yorkshire, using interactive workshops and community performances to co-create policy solutions with local residents. He has learned that early, meaningful engagement and relationship-building are crucial to effective participation, with high community buy-in correlating with more impactful outcomes.
Matthew’s practice is guided by climate justice, equity, and a set of ten organisational principles emphasising accountability, inclusion, hope, and collaboration. He works closely with organisations including the UK Youth Climate Coalition, Stop Rosebank, and the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, supporting them to skill up grassroots campaigners and navigate democratic processes.
He identifies key challenges as political disillusionment, the rise of divisive parties, and the difficulty of fostering hope and belief in systemic change. Matthew sees the Practice-Builders’ Network as an opportunity to share practical insights from his work, learn from peers addressing similar socio-political and environmental challenges, and explore approaches that connect climate action, economic justice, and democratic participation. He aims to contribute knowledge on community-led engagement while deepening his understanding of inclusive, transformative civic practice.