LEMUR+ Widening Participation

Introduction

Ambios are awaiting news (due end of February 2007) of funding to develop an innovative apporach to Nature Conservation Training in 2017 with training placements available 2018.

Should we be successful with our funding request, our vision is that from 2018, LEMUR+ bursary placements will train, mentor and support people with different abilities (learning or visual) and ‘widening participation’ graduates to realise their ambition of securing employment in the wildlife heritage sector. (‘Widening participation’ graduates are from backgrounds less common in Higher Education). As well as increasing access to nature conservation employment for under-represented groups, this pioneering project aims to foster mutual understanding, break down barriers and influence employer recruitment strategies within nature conservation organisations.  Ambios, Robert Owen Communities (ROC) and The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) will combine their many years of experience in training and supporting those with different abilities to deliver this unique, nature conservation focused, new programme.

We are currently seeking a range of  funding sources to enable this project to come to life.

 

Course Content

The project will provide training tailored to the needs and abilities of each trainee, which will include;

1. Employability skills training and accredited learning in identified sector heritage skills shortages. These include species identification and survey, practical habitat management, heritage interpretation, associated digital and assistive technologies. This will lead to quality assured vocational qualifications at the appropriate level.
2. Provision of supported work placements with sector employers, including Ambios and some of the many nature conservation organisations in our network.
3. Creation of ‘Ability Ambassadors’ to promote disability awareness to our organisation network and to co-workers as well as the general public through wildlife survey community events, such as Bioblitz (site based 24hr continuous wildlife species counts).

On completion of the course, a personalised exit strategy will progress trainees into nature conservation employment.

Further information

For further information please drop us an email at info@ambios.net