Countryside Learning Scotland is an award-winning charity established in 2003 with a commitment to sustain a thriving rural economy and take pride in improving access to environmental activities and industries, nurturing future countryside custodians. The charity’s ‘Pathways to Rural Work’ initiative is a progressive programme that increases awareness of and access to qualifications, training and careers in the rural sector, helping to reduce the attainment gap by providing school-to-work transition opportunities for pupils and students of all abilities. Working in partnership with community groups, countryside employers, schools, colleges and NGOs, the long-term goal is to create a sustainable future for Scotland’s managed environments and wild places by engaging young people with the countryside.
The ‘Pathways to Rural Work’ programme has been created in response to Countryside Learning Scotland recognising that secondary school students lack similar access and exposure to the rural sector as nursery and primary age groups. By delivering and facilitating in-school engagement sessions, hands-on rural career days, residential experiences and teacher-industry staff training, the charity has successfully shown that opportunities exist for everyone, regardless of background, academic ability or additional support needs. The programme bridges this gap and continues the good work completed by other third sector organisations to provide clear progressive pathways into the outdoor and rural sector. CEO Ian Robertson has developed a 3-phase strategy which will deliver a sustainable pathway: 1. Build awareness and interest for outdoor and rural work; 2. Work with employers to provide relevant work experience; and 3. Support the transition into work leading to training, qualification, higher education and employment. Given that 98% of Scotland’s land mass is classed as rural, and the ambitious environmental and climate targets set by the Scottish Government, delivering an enthusiastic and ready workforce is key to growing the success of the rural sector.
Countryside Learning Scotland recognises that rural communities are reliant on the availability of local employment opportunities to sustain services, schools, and businesses. Without supportive legislation, CLS has taken the matter into their own hands by launching an award-winning ADHD programme catering for young people with additional support needs. By showing provenance in this area, CLS can provide employers with support and training to enable the smooth transition of young people into outdoor work. By showing youngsters the need for vocational skills, the ‘Pathways to Rural Work’ initiative offers a huge benefit to positive mental health, wellbeing and sustainable futures for many disadvantaged youths. In turn, success in their ambitions will reduce pressures on care, health and welfare services, while also offering alternative options to benefit, drug and crime dependency.
The United Kingdom urgently needs a tangible succession plan to replace an ageing and skilled workforce which currently delivers the country’s agricultural and land management services. The aftermath of the Brexit vote revealed the UK’s overreliance on imported labour, and now there are greater incentives to invest in homegrown talent to return the workforce to full capacity. Scotland is no exception, and with growing opportunities for renewable energy, natural capital and environmental regeneration, programmes such as CLS’s ‘Pathways to Rural Work’ are invaluable.