Branching Out Apprenticeship Project

Tir Coed

Key Countryside Issues: The isolated and remote locations, higher unemployment and lack of access to training have all contributed to the steady decline of rural communities across Britain as people flea to urban areas in search of jobs and better services such as broadband and shops (800 village shops close each year). The number of people farming in Britain has declined 26% over the past twenty years and 10% of those remaining farming households are returning a negative income. However training people to continue careers in agriculture and rural areas is vital to sustaining the countryside, preserving water sources, protecting wildlife and landscape and producing the UK’s food & drink (currently 60% of this is produced domestically). It is estimated that 60,000 new entrants are needed in the agriculture/farming industry in the next decade to ensure its sustainability but with few training and apprenticeship schemes focussed on rural studies, this poses a great challenge. Unemployment in Wales The second update of ‘Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Wales’, published in 2008, found that 45% of unemployed people in Wales were under 25, which equates to one in ten of all 16 – 25 year olds. Unemployment has also risen sharply among men aged 25 to 64. In 2010 there were 39,000 unemployed men, up by 22,000 since 2004. The number of unemployed women in this age group has doubled to 28,000. It concluded – “If this situation persists, the risk may be of a new generation lacking the experience, qualifications and self-belief to provide for themselves and their families. Yet many of the parents of 2020’s children will come from this very generation.” The Project Tir Coed seeks to improve the quality of life for rural Welsh communities through better use of the woodland resource to develop the personal, social and vocational skills of disadvantaged people, living in rural areas.

For the past 6 years, Tir Coed has been working specifically with marginalised young people, aged 16-28 years. When young people reach the age of 16 years and are no longer entitled to education services, there is little or no support for those who are not able to engage with further education or employment. More recently, Tir Coed has identified a need to extend activities to the 25-64 age bracket to respond to the currently precarious skills and employment market. Through workshops, courses and activities, Tir Ceod projects help participants to develop confidence and vocational skills, improve their career development and employment opportunities and strengthen their understanding and appreciation of the environment. Tir Coed links with other land based organisations, such as the Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, Forestry Commission Wales, Countryside Council for Wales and community woodland groups to ensure the maintenance of woodland areas in the region. PCF Funding The Branching Out Apprenticeship initiative offers 4 woodland management apprenticeships (8 months duration) and 2 greenwood construction apprenticeships (6 months duration) to young people in rural Wales seeking a woodland related career. The project will also host 4 open days on sustainable development and 8 demonstrations at Farmers' Markets. 2 Woodland Management Apprentices were recruited in November 2012 and are both undertaking a variety of woodland work. Tony Vallance has been placed with Tir Coed’s Social Enterprise, WiseWoods Wales, whilst Milo Ames is being mentored by Woodsman Rob Smith at Rob’s wood in Newquay and is also assisting Rob on Tir Coed volunteer projects. Both of the Woodland Management Apprentices have started on an Open College Network (OCN) level 3 Unit in Sustainable Woodland Management, which will be accredited through Agored Cymru (OCN in Wales).  Case Studies CASE STUDY 1: Tony Vallance Tony Vallance has been placed with Tir Coed’s Social Enterprise, WiseWoods Wales. Tony has undertaken a vast number of tasks and achieved a great deal in the short time that he’s been working with WiseWoods. He has been undertaking much-needed thinning at Coed Tyllwyd, as well as helping with footpath improvement and product development. Tony has recently passed his chainsaw (CS30 & 31) assessment, and also achieved an NPTC Level 2 Forest Machine Operations (FMO1) certificate; he is currently undertaking FMO training to operate the WiseWoods saw mill. The WiseWoods Business Manager, Andy Bakewell, has already expressed an aspiration to keep Tony in employment after the duration of his Apprenticeship, if economics allow. Tony had previously lived an itinerant life-style, travelling around Europe and picking up work where he could. Tony was drawn towards farm and forestry work, but working on mainly large industrial farms he grew dissatisfied with the intensive way in which the land was being used and wanted to find work which was more sympathetic with the natural environment. When he returned to the UK Tony had developed a great interest in organic agriculture, and brought this passion to an

organic farm in Exeter. The farming work was piecemeal, so Tony supplemented his income with repair jobs on fishing trawlers, an experience which honed his carpentry skills. This was followed by a few years working as a Teaching Assistant at a local school. When Tony moved to Aberystwyth to be with his partner in 2012, he was left with no employment. Tony tried very hard to find employment in West Wales, applying for countless jobs of any type. Tony referred himself onto a Tir Coed ‘VINE’ woodland skills training programme at Coed Tyllwyd in Llanfarian. His outstanding skills however, meant that Tony was ahead of the rest of the group and he soon progressed onto volunteering with Tir Coed’s embryonic social Enterprise, WiseWoods Wales, which operates from the same woodland in Llanfarian. Tony found himself in a voluntary role with WiseWoods, and took to the work instantly and with great enthusiasm, becoming an indispensible part of the Team. However, the need for paid employment was ever pressing, and when the opportunity arose to apply for the Tir Coed Apprenticeship position with WiseWoods, Tony jumped at the chance. He said; “When I look back at what I’ve gained & achieved, I’ve progressed incredibly. I’ve gained skills and qualifications that I was not in a position to pay for otherwise. If it hadn’t been for this Apprenticeship I would have had to have opted for work at levels well below my abilities or had to have moved away to work – work was proving very difficult to find. It’s given me a direction to follow, as well an income that I can depend on. It’s what I’ve wanted to do for years now; I feel very lucky.” When Tony has completed his Apprenticeship he will have an excellent skill set and he is hoping that WiseWoods will employ him post-Apprenticeship. If this is not an option, then Tony will have the skills and experience to apply for positions in the forestry sector. CASE STUDY 2: Milo Ames: Milo Ames is being mentored by Woodsman Rob Smith, and is undertaking a variety of woodland work, with WiseWoods, at Rob’s wood in Newquay, and he is also assisting Rob on Tir Coed volunteer projects. Milo has also been working hard with Rob to bring an undermanaged woodland back to health. This has involved tree selection and felling, as well as bramble clearance. Milo undertook 3-day chainsaw training but has decided to wait until he has had more practice before he undertakes an assessment. He has also been helping WiseWoods with workbench construction and path creation. In addition to his work with Tir Coed, Milo is spending 2 days a week with Ben Gray at Pen yr Allt woods, helping with volunteer groups and managing this woodland with Ben. Milo found academic studies difficult throughout secondary school and struggled to thrive in a classroom environment. At 16 years old, with only 3 basic GCSEs, Milo felt lost, with no idea of a career path and little optimism about his future. However, a close friend started on a woodland skills course with Tir Coed and encouraged Milo to join up as well. It didn’t take long for Milo to realise that woodland work was his forte. Milo bonded well with the Tutor, Ben Gray, and when the Tir Coed course came to an end, Ben helped Milo to extend his woodland training, initially through a

placement with Rathbone Training, before progressing onto a 6 month training placement with Ben through Ceredigion Training. Milo’s woodland skills increased rapidly during this period, learning felling and coppicing techniques using hand tools, as well as timber conversion, gate-making and hedge-laying. Milo soon discovered that he has a talent for wood turning, and over time, his work on the pole lathe progressed to a very high standard. Milo commented; “I know what I want to do now – work in the woods.” Milo recently became a father, a responsibility that he takes very seriously. He added: “knowing that I’ve got the basis of a solid career in the woods makes the ‘teenage father experience’ less terrifying. I am proud to be able to contribute to my baby’s welfare.” As well as the 3 days that Milo works in the woods as part of his Apprenticeship, his enthusiasm is such that he still volunteers with Ben Grey for 2 days a week. [Ends] Notes to editors: The Prince’s Countryside Fund was set up in July 2010 by Business in the Community and is the brainchild of The Prince of Wales who has a long-held commitment to supporting Britain’s hard pressed rural areas. So far it has given over £2.1 million in grants distributed to over 60 projects across the country, directly benefitting nearly 40,000 people. Projects that have been funded range from apprenticeships for budding hill farmers, training for young people to gain employment in the rural economy, community transport schemes in isolated rural areas and projects to educate school children about where their food comes from and why the countryside matters. In addition to its normal application process, the Fund also operates an emergency fund for times of need. All the projects focus on supporting the people who care for our countryside and make it tick. The public can make a donation online at Virgin Giving at the Post Office or by Text. Text PCF to 70300 and a £3 donation will be made to The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Until March 2013 all donations will be given directly to the Farming Help Charities. For further media enquiries please contact: Jennifer Middleton on 01757 268283 or email jennifer@lemonzestpr.co.uk or Victoria Elms (The Prince’s Countryside Fund) on 0207 566 5559.