Meet the team! – Ruth Springer, coach and leadership trainer

Ruth Springer is a teacher, school leader, coach and leadership trainer based in East London, where she lives with her family. With over 20 years of experience teaching History, she’s currently an Assistant Headteacher at a large secondary school in Bethnal Green. Alongside her school leadership, Ruth coaches and trains senior leaders—especially Headteachers and their teams—helping them lead with integrity, clarity and care.

Why Ruth Cares About Climate

Ruth’s deep care for the planet stems from her upbringing. Her parents instilled in her a belief that “we live in relationship with the earth, and that it’s something to enjoy, protect, and honour.” This has translated into everyday behaviours that keep Ruth connected to nature. “Even in the heart of the city, I seek out nature and beauty and find in them something essential: calm, connection, perspective.”

For Ruth, the climate crisis was a call to arms. “I’m conscious that our human impulses—mine included—have led to harm. The idea that we’ve brought the planet to such a dangerous place fills me with sadness—and sometimes shame. I can’t sit with those feelings passively. we demand a response.”

Her Journey With Climate Change Coaches

Ruth first crossed paths with Climate Change Coaches co-founder Charly Cox over a decade ago while co-facilitating a leadership programme. Already certain of coaching’s transformational power, Ruth was quickly onboard when Charly shared her idea of applying coaching to the climate space. “I didn’t need convincing! It made total sense. I knew I wanted to be part of it.”

Why She Loves This Work

In Ruth’s words, “Despair is always there, just under the surface—but we don’t move forward from that place. Change needs hope, energy, belief.”

That’s what she sees in the Climate Change Coaches: a team that’s alive to the scale of the crisis, but chooses to respond with skill, care, and collective action. “I live in a community in East London where injustice is part of daily life—but so is organising. That same spirit runs through the work of the Climate Change Coaches: we’re alive to the scale of the problem, but instead of turning away, we bring their time, energy, and skill to it. It’s hopeful work. And I think we need that kind of hope now more than ever.”

A Story of Local Action

As both a teacher and a changemaker, Ruth is drawn to stories of everyday people creating extraordinary change. One such example? A local energy campaign led by her East London church community. “We encouraged neighbours to switch to a cleaner, greener supplier. Over 50 households took part!” That effort sparked further local action around housing, green spaces and wellbeing. “The most inspiring part? Watching a coalition of people build the world as it could be.”

What makes Climate Change Coaches different?

What stands out to Ruth is CCC’s responsiveness. “I love how nimble and responsive the team is. The CCC are always asking: where can we be most useful right now? What work really needs doing? Who should we be working with? There’s no ego, just a desire to make a difference.”

Ruth also highlights our intentional focus on building trust and connection. “I admire the way the Climate Change Coaches build relationships—within our team and with our clients. There’s deep connection, genuine curiosity, and a strong sense of purpose. As a team we build hope. I truly believe that it’s within these kinds of trusting relationships that the answers to our biggest challenges lie.”

Outside work

At school, Ruth gets a daily dose of humour from the students—“teenagers are unintentionally hilarious!” Outside the classroom, she loves music, detective dramas, and spotting peregrine falcons from her garden. “Urban nature,” she smiles, “is full of surprises.”

September Wisdom

To Ruth, September is a time of both loss and new beginnings. “I mourn the summer and celebrate the start of a new term. I try to honour that transition.”

Her advice for the month? Don’t rush. “Let September be both a soft landing and a springboard. Ground yourself. Arrive fully. Save your energy for what really matters.”