PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Greenskill introduces young people to land-based and environmental skills through a co-ordinated programme of volunteering.  As the project grows, SRYP will work in partnership with other organisations in the conservation and environmental sector so this kind of volunteering can be sustained as an opportunity for all the young people with whom Somerset Rural Youth Project engages.

The key aim of Project Greenskill is to establish land-based and environmental volunteering as a learning opportunity for the young people in SRYP’s target group, in the effort to help develop a sustainable economy for Somerset.

The two objectives are (1) to establish a skills-based and community-focused approach to delivering new volunteering opportunities in rural environmental management and conservation and (2) to establish strong working links between SRYP and organisations active in the field of environmental and conservation based volunteering.

Activities include conservation tasks in numerous locations across Somerset including Exmoor National Park;  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty such as The Quantocks and the Blackdown Hills;  Nature Reserves and other managed public spaces and private land.

Young volunteers are encouraged to participate fully in planning new activities and to guide their own learning but those responsible for the sites where the project operates (wardens, rangers, custodians, local landowners and residents) are involved with the selection, planning and monitoring of tasks.

The range of skills offered may include the safe use of hand tools for a range of tasks, for example; boundary management including dry stone walling and fencing, work on ponds and streams, vegetation clearance and footpath maintenance, small forestry projects such as tree guard removal and tree planting and small scale practical conservation work such as nest box construction. 

“Young people are encouraged to see their volunteering not only as a way of developing their skills but also as a way of them making a positive contribution to their local community and environment,” explained Barney Simmons, SRYP’s Project Worker for Environmental Volunteering , “and we make sure the work is fun, enjoyable and safe”.

Barney went on to explain that, “The range of skills and tasks depends on the site, local conditions and the identified need.” Interaction with environmental professionals adds value to the Volunteer’s learning experience and allows young people an insight into working within the sector.

Project Green Skill complements volunteering opportunities already available through SRYP’s BRAVO project and helps to diversify opportunities that SRYP can offer for young volunteers.

For more information please contact: Barney Simmons Environmental Projects Worker Tel: 07773 343335
E-mail: barneysimmons@sryp.org.uk

Please see their website for more information: www.sryp.org.uk (currently being updated as at 6th Nov 2008)

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