Wildlife Skills trainees Chris & Naomi identifying plants © Rachel Janes
A new training programme called Wildlife Skills has been awarded £829,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), allowing four Wildlife Trusts in the South West to train 46 aspiring conservationists over the next three years.
Designed to address the skills shortages within the South West conservation sector, Wildlife Skills has already appointed 16 trainees. Each will focus on one of three areas; practical conservation, survey and monitoring or volunteer and community engagement. As well as gaining formal qualifications, the trainees will receive complimentary training in transferable skills to enhance their future employability and consolidate their learning by working with Wildlife Trust staff.
The scheme aims to diversify the future of conservation by providing opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly young people and those in transitional phases of their lives and careers. New placements will be available in summer 2015. For more information about the training scheme please visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife_skills
