A Toolkit with options for a career that delivers heal th and wellbeing outcomes
AGRICULTURE ANIMAL CARE AQUACULTURE CONSERVATION
EQUINE WORLD HORTICULTURE
LAND-BASED TREES & TIMBER
VET NURSING WILDLIFE MGT
How to get experience
Firstly, and this might sound obvious, you need to find somewhere that is doing the kind of work in which you are interested.
The difficulty is that the employers that you might want to work or volunteer for, are often quite far away from where people live.
There also might not be many companies doing the kind of work you want to do near where you live. Or that they can’t offer work experience or take on a volunteer for health and safety reasons. But don’t worry, it is likely there is one that offers something similar, or something that you can do that builds other useful skills that will help give your CV the edge.
Most foresters I know would happily take on someone with some farming experience, and many farmers would view an application from someone with some forestry experience better than someone with no experience. Particularly if on your CV you explained that why you took this work was more down to limited choices rather than it being your career of choice.
At entry level, employers just want to see some kind of proof that you can:
•Put up with a bit of wind and rain
•Follow instructions
•Work safely
•Work hard (within reason - you are a volunteer!)
•Make a good cup of tea
Just kidding – they won’t trust you with making tea straight away. A good cuppa is Very Important when you work outdoors.
If you are under 16, and don’t have connections in the sector already who can help give you a taste of what work in your chosen area would be like, then volunteering is the next best thing!
How to find volunteering opportunities
There are thousands of volunteer opportunities in Scotland, some just need a little time, others might require a bigger commitment. But rest assured there’s something for everyone!
From helping at events to fundraising, to taking part in conservation activities, the possibilities are endless. There are opportunities in different places too, including sports clubs and local community organisations.
By donating your time, you will not only support the organisation you choose to volunteer with, but you could also make a positive impact on the lives of people, communities, animals, and environments. You might even find that you receive far more in return than you give.
So where to start?
Well, Volunteer Scotland is a great place to find opportunities suitable for younger volunteers. Their search pages have a filter that includes 12 to 15 and 11 and under. You can also filter by location, role and services. Our last search returned 363 opportunities for this age grouping alone!
Find volunteering opportunities - https://volunteer.scot/
You could also get involved with Young Scot through their YSHive (or Young Scot Hive), a volunteering service for young people. By volunteering your time with them, either online or at in-person sessions and events, you could gain valuable skills and experiences. At the same time, their volunteer experiences gives you the chance to have your say on things that matter to you and create change for your community. Get Involved - https://young.scot/get-involved/
Lantra Scotland work to ensure those working in the land-based and aquaculture sectors can get the training, qualifications and skills they need to succeed.
Their website includes a range of information from career opportunities to training courses.
Read their latest newsletter, subscribe to it or contact them at: scotland@lantra.co.uk
AGRICULTURE ANIMAL CARE AQUACULTURE CONSERVATION EQUINE WORLD HORTICULTURE LAND-BASED TREES & TIMBER VET NURSING WILDLIFE MGT
This document was funded by the Scottish Government.
