The additional investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will fund an extra 25 work placements for young people, through Groundwork’s New to Nature programme.
The project, launched last year to mark The Queen’s Jubilee, targets young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds, offering them the opportunity to apply for paid work placements across the natural environment and landscape sector. Young people from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled or low-income homes have been encouraged to apply.
The extra funding has been invested in celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III, which is set for 6 May this year.
A total of 95 young people will now be provided with work experience placements through the programme, ranging from desk-based roles in communications to outdoor conservation roles. Some 70 young people have already received their placements, joining a raft of organisations including WWF-UK, The Woodland Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the National Trust.
Ben, a 20-year-old who has started work as a Market Garden Development Officer at The Ecology Centre in Kinghorn, said: “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. What I'm enjoying most is I've not been doing the same thing at any point.”
The programme will run until September 2024, funded by a £7m investment in nature from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, as part of a £22m package invested to mark the Jubilee. The project is being delivered by Groundwork in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, Mission Diverse and Youth Environmental Service.
Graham Duxbury, chief executive of Groundwork UK, said: “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.
“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.”
