Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is celebrating the success of a four-year Conservation Skills Programme, which is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Skills for the Future’ trainee scheme. A new report reveals that 87% of the trainees in Dorset gained employment in the environment sector within one year of completing the programme.
The Conservation Skills Programme has recruited 31 individuals from Dorset onto a placement with Dorset Wildlife Trust to allow them to train for a career in nature conservation. 18 of those 31 are now employed in Dorset.
Over the duration of the four year project (2011-2015), 296 months of work based training has been delivered to young people who were not in employment, education or training. The success of this training demonstrates it is possible for people from diverse backgrounds to gain employment in the environment and heritage sector.
DWT’s Skills for the Future Coordinator, Steve Davis, said, “As the conservation skills programme draws to a close, we are really proud of the 31 individuals who now have the skills to persue their dream jobs in conservation. They have already made a really big difference to wildlife in Dorset, and we look forward to watching their careers go from strength to strength.”
Former Skills for the Future trainee Nikki Hesketh-Roberts, said “The skills for the future programme provided training and opportunities for me that I otherwise would have not been able to access. During my career as a trainee I enjoyed working in the countryside, seeing lots of different habitats and species and developing my identification skills. I also liked putting the chainsaw and brush cutter training into practice, working with volunteers and corporate groups and giving talks and guided walks.”
DWT has been able to carry out this work due to an award of £351,400 from HLF*.
Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said, “It’s fantastic to see how successful this programme has been and we are proud to have supported it with National Lottery players’ money. Not only has it been life-changing for the individuals involved, most of whom are now working in their chosen field, but it will also go a long way in ensuring our landscapes, habitats and species are properly looked after in the future,
Training opportunities through Dorset Wildlife trust continue through the HLF funded Wildlife Skills programme which we are delivering in partnership with Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire Wildlife Trusts. To find out more and how to apply visit: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/Skills_for_the_Future-new
