Free Young Adult Membership to Friends of the South Downs launched
Friends of the South Downs are excited to announce the launch of a new, free membership targeted to people aged 18-30.
🌿 Who Are the Friends of the South Downs?
Friends of the South Downs (formerly the South Downs Society) is the only membership charity dedicated to protecting the South Downs—from Hampshire through Sussex, including landmarks such as the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head. They were founded in 1923, originally as The Society of Sussex Downsmen, making them one of the earliest conservation organisations in the UK.
They act as the National Park Society for the South Downs National Park and work independently, without political affiliation, funded through memberships, donations and legacies.
🌿 How Students Can Get Involved with Friends of the South Downs
1. Join Guided Walks & Outdoor Activities
Friends of the South Downs organise over 200 guided walks each year across the National Park, offering varied routes and educational activities. This is an easy, low‑barrier way for students to build confidence in the outdoors, improve wellbeing, and learn about local heritage. [friendsoft…wns.org.uk], [southdowns…all.org.uk]
Great for: enrichment, Duke of Edinburgh, wellbeing programmes, photography, environmental studies.
2. Participate in Conservation Projects
Students can get involved in hands‑on projects that help maintain and improve the South Downs, such as:
Stiles & Seats Project – replacing stiles with accessible kissing gates and installing resting places along popular paths.
Mend Our Way – supporting path restoration projects, including work on sections of the South Downs Way.
These activities are excellent for environmental science, geography, public services, and outdoor education learners.
3. Join Heritage & Learning Initiatives
The South Downs Generations project creates a “living history” of the Downs from Victorian times to today. Students can contribute through interviews, research, archiving, or creative outputs.
Perfect for history, media, art, and humanities students.
4. Support Campaigning & Planning Awareness
Friends of the South Downs plays a key role in:
Commenting on planning applications
Influencing neighbourhood plans
Protecting landscapes from inappropriate development [friendsoft…wns.org.uk], [southdowns…all.org.uk]
Students can get involved by:
Learning about local planning issues
Assisting with research
Attending talks or workshops
Joining discussions on preserving the National Park
Ideal for public services, politics/government, geography, and sociology students.
5. Volunteer for Events and Educational Activities
The charity runs numerous community events, walks, and educational sessions. Volunteers help with:
Welcoming the public
Supporting walk leaders
Helping run information stands
Assisting with heritage or nature‑based workshops
Great for personal development, employability skills, and work experience (industry placements).
🌿 How to Apply Young Adult Membership
Friends of the South Downs offers a FREE Young Adult Membership for anyone aged 18–30.
This is the closest equivalent to “student membership,” and is specifically designed to help young people get involved in conservation, campaigning, events, and walks. [friendsoft…wns.org.uk]
✅ How to Apply (Step‑by‑Step)
1. Visit the Young Adult Membership Page
Go to the official application form here:
Free Young Adult Membership – Friends of the South Downs [friendsoft…wns.org.uk]
2. Complete the Online Application Form
You will need to provide:
First & last name
Date of birth
Email and mobile
Address details
Confirmation that you are aged 18–30
Agreement to support the organisation’s aims and Articles of Association
3. Submit the Form Online
Once submitted, the charity advises it may take up to 5 working days to process your application.
If you don’t see a confirmation email, check your spam/junk folder.
🌱 What Students Get With Free Membership
Although the membership isn’t labelled “student,” it offers ideal benefits for FE and HE learners, including access to:
Free/low‑cost online events for young people
Conservation and heritage volunteering opportunities
Guided walks and outdoor activities
Opportunities to influence environmental campaigns
A welcoming community focused on nature, heritage, and climate issues
This membership was launched specifically to engage young adults and give them a voice in shaping the future of the South Downs.