NEWS: New to Nature celebration event reflects on achievements of programme and asks, ‘what needs to happen next?’
Groundwork has celebrated the successes of the New to Nature programme, alongside trainees and environmental sector stakeholders, at an event designed to both recognise and promote the importance of creating more accessible pathways for young people wanting to pursue a green career.
The event marked the achievements of trainees during their varied 12-month work placements in environment and nature organisations across the UK, with many of the young people now embarking on the next step into careers in the green sector during their time on New to Nature.
Activities throughout the day included skill sharing, reflection sessions and outdoor planting, allowing trainees to review their placements, share learnings and experiences, and providing opportunities to network.
Key environmental and nature sector representatives were also in attendance – including WWF UK, RSPB, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and New Green Deal Rising – and participated in a roundtable discussion, alongside several New to Nature trainees, to discuss the achievements of the programme and actions for what needs to happen next in the sector to continue this legacy of a strong, diverse green workforce.
A panel discussion was also a highlight of the day, with attendees given the opportunity to learn and ask questions to key environmental professionals working in the industry about their personal journey what they are doing to promote the importance of inclusivity in the sector.
Julian Glover, Heritage Fund Trustee, also attended and gave the closing remarks before finishing the day with an inspiring film, featuring young people from the programme and narrated by Emma Marriott who wrote a poem to accompany the footage.
We all know how important it is to diversify the environmental sector and build the capacity of nature-based organisations to deliver more of their vital work. New to Nature has been hugely successful on both fronts, but gathering trainees together in one place makes it obvious how much more transformative it is. The New to Nature trainees are a group of people from very diverse backgrounds focused on a common cause, and now with the experience under their belt to make a real difference. They are the future of our sector with some very clear ideas about what needs to change. We’ll continue to do all we can to help them realise their aspirations and create opportunities for more young people to follow in their footsteps.
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork UK’s Chief Executive
The New to Nature programme, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, provided work placements at a variety of environmental organisations to 97 people from under-represented groups, including young people, people from minority ethnic or low-income backgrounds and people with disabilities.
Groundwork is continuing to share the importance of accessible routes to green jobs with the Force of Nature campaign.
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: 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/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.
