Our Bright Future
What is it?
The Fife based Our Bright Future project is one of 31 happening across the UK. Each is equipping 11-24 year olds with skills and experience to make a difference in their local community and for the environment with thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.
This programme is running until September 2021 and offers different types of activity centred around learning rural skills from our base in Falkland as well through partner sites at The Ecology Centre in Kinghorn, Cambo Estate near Kingsbarns and Silverburn Park in Leven.
What’s involved?
Our level 1 programme is aimed at young people aged from 14 – 18 years. We tend to work with people through contacts with local high schools. But if you’re interested in finding out more for you or someone you know then please get in touch.
We offer a series of free sessions working in small groups of up to 6 people on outdoor projects. You work with a member of the team who will find out what you enjoy and then hopefully help you do it! Some of the things the teams have got involved in so far include gardening, making bug hotels, pond dipping and conservation type activity as well as removing plants from areas where they are not wanted or more creative projects involving growing harvesting and then weaving willow or basic wood working. But there is so much more. Outdoor clothing is provided and the sessions are all about having fun, learning something new and developing confidence and skills.
“I really look forward to working here, sometimes it’s hard at home and I get angry and frustrated! I come here and working outside on this project helps me. It makes my week better”.
“I really enjoyed the wood working so much I bought my own tools and started more at home”!
Our level 2 programme is about offering Modern Apprenticeships to young people aged between 16 and 24 years. We have three different types of opportunity; Horticulture based at Cambo Gardens, Rural Skills base at The Ecology Centre and Trees and Timber based on Falkland Estate.
We start our recruitment with a basic introduction or screening day, which is very relaxed and allows you to find out a bit more about the apprenticeships and what’s involved. From there we invite young people on to a Rural Skills Academy which lasts about two weeks. Here you will get to know the site supervisor, find out more about the apprenticeship whilst gaining some work experience and accredited training through a one-day First Aid course. From the Academy we select onto our programme.
The programmes tend to last about 15 months during which you will be paid National Minimum Wage, be supported through a level 2 Modern Apprenticeship, undertake training and have the opportunity to gain industry recognised qualifications including brushcutter and strimmer for example, alongside real work experience as part of a small team at each site. This we hope will put you in a strong position once you finish and leave the programme to go on to further your career in the rural sector.
Take a look at Jack’s video of his experience of a Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber
Take a look at Kyle’s video of his experience of a Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber
Take a look at Lucia’s video of her experience of a Modern Apprenticeship in Horticulture
We ran a level 3 programme which was designed to support young people in setting up new businesses in the rural sector, providing individual support, mentoring and guidance. This element of the programme has now come to a planned end. To find out more about what some of the young people got up to whilst they were with us please take a look at the videos below.
Mikey, interior and furniture designer
Leo Norris mentor and furniture maker alongside and Lola creative crafter.
To find out more about any element of our Rural Skills training programmes please contact Sarah on 01337 858838 or by email.
