Paid Summer Internship | Students and Recent Graduates
Footsteps is seeking summer interns to join a project exploring how places of worship already act as hubs of climate resilience and adaptation within their communities.
Working as part of a small team, you will help develop six engaging case studies documenting inspiring examples of faith communities responding to environmental and social challenges.
Eligibility & Preferences
- Education: Open to students and recent graduates from any university or college; and any discipline.
- Location: Preference given to applicants based in Birmingham/the West Midlands, or those able to travel there for site visits and activities.
- Key Interests: Ideally suited for individuals interested in:
- Research & Community Engagement
- Sustainability, Adaptation & Climate Resilience
- Design, Media, & Communications
- Social Sciences, Geography, Architecture, Design, Urban Design
- Faith & Community Work – candidates need to have some knowledge and interest in the role that faith communities and places of worship play in their local communities.
Possible Roles
The final team structure will be shaped around the strengths and interests of successful applicants. Potential responsibilities may include:
- Project Coordination & Team Support – helping organise activities and maintain project momentum.
- Research & Community Engagement – conducting interviews, gathering information, and liaising with places of worship.
- Visual Storytelling & Design – creating illustrations, professional layouts, photography, and accessible visual content.
- Writing & Content Development – drafting case studies and communicating key findings.
What You’ll Do
- Conduct research and interviews.
- Visit and engage with places of worship.
- Develop written case study content.
- Create visual and digital storytelling materials.
- Contribute content for the Footsteps website.
- Gather and interpret findings from the previous “Co.LAB project”.
- Work collaboratively as part of a small interdisciplinary team.
- Help prepare and contribute to an Autumn conference presentation.
What You’ll Gain
- Paid internship experience.
- Research, communication, and project development skills.
- Experience working with community organisations and faith groups.
- Portfolio-quality written and visual work.
- Opportunities to showcase your work professionally through the Footsteps website, conferences, and other platforms.
- Mentorship and support throughout the project.
Commitment
Approximately 45 hours between June and July 2026, including project meetings, fieldwork, content creation, and conference preparation.
There will also be an opportunity to present the work at a West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) conference in October.
Reasonable project-related expenses will be covered.
Payment
Internships are paid at or above the National Minimum Wage.
How to Apply
Please email Angella, Footsteps’ Assistant Secretary angella@footstepsbcf.org.uk with:
- Your name
- Contact details (including mobile number and email address)
- A short paragraph explaining why you are interested in the internship
Deadline Friday 12th June.
Angella can answer any questions you may have and will send you a short online application form