Based in Perthshire, Countryside Learning Scotland (CLS) are a countryside education charity formed in 2003 who provide countryside educational, awareness, training, and career opportunities. They encompass all areas of the land, from recreation to land management to conservation and the environment. Their work has been vital for involving communities with rural Scotland and educating and opening the eyes of Scotland’s young people to what the countryside has to offer them and what they have to offer the countryside.
They find that young people benefit hugely from the hands-on experiences of being in the open of rural Scotland’s countryside and focus on developing rural skills specifically through their “Pathways to Rural Work” (P2RW) initiative. P2RW is a progressive programme that increases awareness of and access to rural opportunities, qualifications, training and careers to help reduce the attainment gap through providing greater school to work transition opportunities for pupils and students from all backgrounds and abilities. P2RW Strategy is at the core of the work at CLS and is designed around a multi-engagement progressive ages and stages approach to engage people with the countryside from primary level all the way to career stages. It creates a positive development towards STEM related careers as well as increasing climate and environmental awareness. CLS are in a unique position as the only countryside education charity in Scotland specialising in the secondary sector and across all rural industries. This initiative bridges the gap of rural opportunities for children from urban areas and promotes the tremendous health benefits and life-long work and leisure opportunities within the countryside.
CLS have recently partnered with Perth & Kinross ADHD support group, and launched a new initiative called ‘ADHD Rural Connect’, with project founder Hugo Meynell. It’s the first of its kind to be offering educational support to young people with ADHD into rural work across Scotland, and is focused to ensure these individuals have the opportunity to reach their full potential by nurturing their skills for employability and life.
39% of children with ADHD are excluded from rural work, so there is a massive responsibility for CLS to maintain their brilliant expertise when implementing ADHD Rural Connect and offering their educational experiences. These young people face many challenges such as poor educational experience; weak interpersonal skills & emotional intelligence; friendship difficulties; not life prepared; lacking in confidence; and impulsivity - meaning poor decision making. All of which must be managed carefully to ensure successful development in the children.
ADHD Rural Connect is the first rural education programme for young people with ADHD in Scotland. They are helping isolated and vulnerable neurodivergent young people; by providing them with “hands on” opportunities to learn new practical skills & qualifications and develop opportunities and employability skills.
CLS is showing their commitment to the ADHD community and others by launching this programme, widening the pool of individuals who can benefit from their educational outdoor programmes and maximise their career opportunities.