Kate Wilkinson's career path work working outdoors with young people for the Green Team. Kate talks about forging her path in work from the age of sixteen, never searching for "a career", and finding the confidence to do her dream job. Current Job Tell us about your current role I am the Green Shoots Project Co-ordinator with the Green Team. I organise and run youth conservation projects with vulnerable young people and those in need of extra support during the school day. I run eight-ten week programs of one full day per week with up to eight young people. I also support and train adult volunteers, liaise with schools, maintain and develop partnerships with site rangers and managers, communicate with parents and families. Career Beginnings When you were 15, what job did you want and who did you ask for advice?I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I was a trainee sailing instructor and loved the outdoors, I wanted to be an artist, I liked teaching. I don't think I asked anyone about it at that age, but had an amazing art teacher when I was seventeen who inspired me and supported me to apply to university to do an art degree.Did you have an interest in the environment at this time?Yes. I loved being outdoors but I was not a scientist. I didn't know about plants or animals, but I knew I loved being outside and it helped me feel good. I loved sport and exercise and wanted to be a sailing instructor and teach outdoors, so I was more into traditional outdoor education than environmental education. What were your first steps in starting your career? I was a sailing instructor for four years from the age of 16-20, then spent time volunteering (WWOOFing - Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) at eco communities around the UK where I learnt about Forest School. When I was about 25 I started volunteering for The Green Team and youth vision before I became pregnant with my daughter. When she was about two I started volunteering with them again and working for a friend who ran a similar project. Over time, I stopped working for my friend and got more and more work with The Green Team until I ended up in the role I have today. Career path and skills What does your career path look like? I feel my path was very non-linear, though fairly consistent with working with young people in the outdoors. I never really had, nor wanted, "a career." Nor did I know what I wanted to so, so I feel very fortunate to have found paid work in a job I adore doing things I love doing!What skills were important for you to develop in your career? I already had a lot of skills in youth work and outdoor environmental education through teaching sailing and working and volunteering in the outdoors and with people, so the hardest part for me was having the confidence that I could do it, and also having to learn the admin side of my current job. I struggled considerably at school with dyslexia and found it hard to engage and focus, so learning how to send emails, how to organise myself and my time, how to communicate with schools and parents and keep on top of things was a huge challenge for me for many years. This article was published on Monday 19 October 2026
