Rebecca Collins is a geographer and researcher at the University of Chester, specialising in how young people are positioned in debates about sustainable and inclusive futures. Her work explores the temporal and intergenerational dimensions of environmental justice, particularly the ways older adults’ understanding of young adulthood can affect collaboration, and how institutional cultures—especially workplaces—can stifle young people’s environmental knowledge and agency.
Rebecca combines research with praxis through initiatives such as the Chester Youth Climate Action Network (CYCAN), a youth-led programme where young adults design and deliver climate workshops for schools, and act as peer educators and intergenerational consultants. CYCAN focuses on engaging underrepresented young people in climate and nature sectors, building leadership skills, and creating opportunities for meaningful participation in environmental decision-making.
She also co-leads Nature at Night (NaN), a peer-led initiative encouraging young adults to connect with nature through activities such as guided night walks, aiming to create accessible, safe, and inclusive spaces for exploring environmental care. Both projects emphasise co-production, fair remuneration, and skill development, ensuring young people’s priorities and voices shape the work.
Rebecca’s research and practice are guided by a vision of a joined-up, sustainable, and socially just future, where intergenerational collaboration, inclusivity, and long-term impact are central. She navigates challenges such as institutional rigidity, funding cycles, and gatekeeping, while prioritising ethical engagement, accessibility, and peer-led approaches.
Through the Practice-Builders’ Network, she seeks to connect regional knowledge from Cheshire and the North, share insights on creating space for young people’s voices, and learn from peers across sectors to accelerate meaningful, just, and enduring environmental change.