Paige

Paige came to The King’s Trust after being out of education and work for around two months. Completing the Get Ready for Careers in Nature and Conservation course, delivered by the National Trust, she is now employed as a Countryside Ranger Apprentice.

“After finishing college, I started looking for jobs and applying everywhere I could. I didn’t hear back from employers, which was frustrating.

 “In my free time I volunteered with the National Trust, and that’s how I heard about The King’s Trust programme. I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me because I was already involved through my volunteering and have a real passion for the outdoors.”

 On the week-long programme, young people worked with Rangers at Gibside National Trust estate.

 “On the course we did a range of activities including identifying and picking invasive species, clearing out trenches, coppicing woodland, carrying out surveys of species on the ground, clearing public footpaths, and habitat maintenance.

 “It was great fun to work alongside the park rangers and see what they do on the daily. It really helped me understand what conservation is all about, and how the tasks we did helped nature as a whole.

“Following the course, I feel that my confidence has improved massively and that I can be more social with people, as I’ve had to lead groups of volunteers and work in teams.”

As a result of the programme, Paige was one of several participants who were successful in getting an apprenticeship as a Countryside Ranger.

“I really enjoy my role as a Countryside Ranger Apprentice. I get to do all the outdoor tasks like birch thinning, surveying, removing invasive plants and so much more.

“I’ve always had an interest in working outdoors so am excited that I get to do that for a job now! It feels great to work in a field which I know makes a meaningful difference to wildlife.”

This collaboration with the National Trust fuels The King’s Trust’s vision for empowering all young people to access clear pathways into higher-skilled, stable and growing career areas that contribute to a greener economy. It’s one of several interventions The King’s Trust offers to connect young people with nature to not only raise career aspirations, but also improve wellbeing, instil a sense of community pride, and raise awareness of critical environmental issues and how they can make a positive difference.