NEWS: Young people across the UK encouraged to apply for new work placements to enrich the environmental sector
Groundwork have announced a further £1million investment for an extra 25 paid work placements to help people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds grow their career in the natural heritage sector.
New to Nature, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to mark the Queen’s Jubilee and the King’s Coronation, targets young people from diverse backgrounds to undertake paid work placements across the natural environment and landscape sector.
Over the duration of the programme, 95 people will have the opportunity to apply for placements across the UK. The work placements are varied, ranging from desk-based roles in communications and social media to outdoor conservation roles. Those who are from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled or from low-income homes are being encouraged to apply.
Applications will be open from Monday 17 April via the Groundwork website.
Ben’s Story
Ben, now 20 years-old, finished school during the Covid-19 pandemic while the UK was in lockdown. Feeling like he had wasted important time in developing his career due to the restrictions in place, Ben was keen to get going with work experience rather than going back into education.
When the opportunity for a twelve-month Market Garden Development Officer work placement at the Ecology Centre became available through the New to Nature programme, he jumped at the opportunity. Ben has a keen interest in gardening and lives locally to the Ecology Centre, having visited the site many times since he was a child.
Ben aspires to go to university in the future but is happy to be spending time outdoors, learning transferable and practical skills in the green sector, while he figures out what he’d like to study.
Being able to see the impact he is making on the built and natural environment at the Ecology Centre has been really rewarding, as has the sheer variety of the tasks he’s set. Learning to grow food has been of particular interest to him as it will allow him to be self-sustaining and healthier.
Speaking about his placement, Ben said:
“It was unfortunate that lockdown started just as I was about to do my exams. At the start it was like a break but as time went on, I was wanting to get out there and do something. It’s a big change for me – going from being inside to being outside nearly all the time. Not to make a pun, but it’s a breath of fresh air, generally. I’ve noticed my health and fitness is getting better.
“What I’m enjoying most is I’ve not been doing the same thing at any point! Even if I’m planting seeds, it’s been literally a different type of vegetable every single time so far. We made a bean frame from one side of the garden to the other. It’s just putting bits of wood together but even still, it’s satisfying to see every time I come into the garden and go ‘I’ve built that’.
“Hopefully by the time that I’m finished, I’ll be able to start my own garden without needing to Google! My end goal is to be able to have a self-sustaining garden so I’m not having to rely so much on the shops and can be eating a lot healthier, knowing where my food comes from.
“I do reckon if the New to Nature placements hadn’t been there, it might have been a lot more difficult just to get a job opening.”
In his time here, Ben has become an important member of the team, showing a willingness to work and a keen interest in all aspects of his placement. His caring and considerate manner, especially with our volunteers with additional support needs, is not something that you can train into people. He has also already shown success in mentoring a work experience young person. We look forward to working with him further as he progresses through his placement.
Lee Brown, Estate and Operation Manager at the Ecology Centre
The programme, which will run until September 2024, will provide high quality and potentially life-changing experiences for those struggling to enter the labour market, at the same time supporting the landscape and nature sector to be more inclusive and diverse. It is also building a UK-wide network of New to Nature trainees, to champion greater diversity within the sector.
I’m delighted that this additional funding will help to further the reach of New to Nature and inspire and mobilise more people to connect with and care for nature.
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive
“It’s exciting to see the new and diverse talent onboarding on the programme, offering opportunities to those who might not otherwise get the chance to gain experience and start building their career in the green sector.
New to Nature is a brand-new approach for the Heritage Fund, reflecting our commitment to nature and inclusion. Our added investment of £1m this spring reflects the burgeoning success of the project so far, with ten people in post and a second tranche of nearly sixty starting next week. These people represent the future of nature conservation, and we are delighted to support them.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a charity working locally and nationally to transform lives in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities.
We’re passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny, and no one is held back by their background or circumstances. We help people gain confidence and skills, get into training and work, protect and improve green spaces, lead more active lives and overcome significant challenges such as poverty, isolation, low skills and poor health: www.groundwork.org.uk
About New to Nature
New to Nature will offer new, full-time, temporary work placements in nature and landscape organisations across the UK, aiming to increase diversity and enrich the environmental sector.
Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the King’s Coronation, the programme will run until September 2024 and will provide paid work placements for at least 95 people, targeting young people from diverse backgrounds to undertake a range of environmental roles.
New to Nature is delivered through a partnership of Groundwork, The Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, and Mission Diverse. We are working closely with the Youth Environmental Service to ensure the programme acts as a stepping stone for a longer-term journey of change in the sector: www.groundwork.org.uk/projects/new-to-nature/
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future: www.heritagefund.org.uk
As part of the National Lottery’s £23million investment to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and The King’s Coronation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund is investing £8m to create a lasting legacy for communities and nature across the UK. The funding will empower disadvantaged communities to take action for nature on their doorsteps and enable 95 people to undertake paid placements in the nature heritage sector.
