Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
South West Lakes Trust
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Our impact
    • Our team
    • Join the team
    • Partners
    • NCS
    • News
    • Blogs
      • SWLT
      • Environment Team
  • Your Lakes
    • Visit the lakes
      • Visit the lakes
      • Visiting South West Lakes during Covid-19
      • Car parking at the lakes
      • Welcoming dogs to our lakes
      • Reservoir safety
      • Wild camping
    • Devon
      • Roadford Lake
      • Burrator
      • Lopwell Dam
      • Fernworthy
      • Meldon
      • Kennick, Tottiford and Trenchford
      • Venford
      • Avon Dam
    • Cornwall
      • Argal and College
      • Colliford
      • Porth
      • Siblyback
      • Stithians
      • Crowdy
      • Tamar Lakes
    • Exmoor
      • Wimbleball
      • Wistlandpound
    • Dorset
      • Longham Lakes
      • Christchurch Harbour
    • Current reservoir levels
  • Support our work
    • Donate
    • Become a Friend of South West Lakes
    • Appeals
      • Roadford Lake Play and Explore
    • Volunteer for us
      • Why volunteer
      • Volunteering opportunities
      • Volunteer case study
    • Our Shop
  • Our Campaigns
    • Campaigns summary
    • Love your Lakes
    • Play and Explore
    • Active Outdoors
    • Building Outdoor Skills
    • Discovering Local Culture
  • What's On
  • Activities and Camping
  • Fishing
    • Coarse Fishing
    • Trout Fishing
    • Royalty Fishery
  • 01566771930
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Building Outdoor Skills

Building Outdoor Skills

Through this campaign, we aim to give young people the confidence to gain experience and develop new skills in outdoor activities, which can subsequently create new pathways into further volunteering and employment.

Our motivation is the potentially detrimental effect that young people can experience from not being in work, employment or training – from negative impacts on physical and mental health, to an increased possibility of unemployment and lower wages in later life.

This brings to light the importance of our Building Outdoor Skills campaign; by offering young people the opportunity to gain experience in environmental and outdoor activities, we aim to instil the confidence and skills in these individuals to pursue a career or further volunteering in this line of work.

Stand up paddleboarding instruction

The work our countryside and activities teams do requires a vast range of different skills – for example, repairing a stone wall, laying a hedge, conserving an ancient monument, improving habitats, and teaching outdoor sports. This variety provides a wealth of opportunity for training and learning in conservation work, rural skills, heritage preservation work, and watersports instruction.

Beyond this, the volunteering experience encompasses a range of personal benefits and qualities, such as friendship, company, being active, the acquisition of new skills, and being outdoors.

One volunteer described the benefits of their experience as ‘meeting people, gaining new practical skills and local knowledge, keeping fit – mentally and physically, and improving the local environment.’

Students ‘were truly engaged and totally felt part of the project they were working on…learning new skills and experiencing in many cases for the first time the feeling of pride in their environment. A great experience which led to four out of the five who attended gaining full time employment shortly afterwards.’ 
Nicky Henderson (Prospects Services) 

Woodworking

James Platts, Chief Executive, believes that the outdoors can be a gateway to lifelong learning for those disenfranchised from traditional learning routes, gaining a new experience or skill as a volunteer may lead to a new career path and direction in life. Every new skill we give our volunteers, employees and visitors develops confidence and wellbeing whilst benefiting other people and the environment.

We are eager to work with volunteers of all ages and abilities. A recent success story is the building and installation of our new entrance signs – a fantastic sustainable story that evolved from the idea of putting wood grown at Burrator back around the sites. We have a brilliant team of volunteers at Burrator, whose collective pool of skills and experience from previous jobs, and eagerness to learn new skills, enabled them to work together to implement a shared vision. Read more about the project here.

By getting a flavour of different types of outdoor work, a young person might catch a glimpse of a potential future filled with fresh, exciting opportunities, and gather the ambition and self-belief to pursue a new pathway to employment.

Find out how you can get involved with our work and opportunities here.

#ItsYourOutdoors - come and explore! 

Published: 20th December, 2018

Updated: 18th May, 2022

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Wild & Well at Wistlandpound Reservoir

    Wild & Well at Wistlandpound Reservoir

    Join us at Wistlandpound Reservoir on Friday 3 June for a family-friendly delve into how the natural world can support and nourish us in these busy times.

  • Wild & Well at Tamar Lakes

    Wild & Well at Tamar Lakes

    Join us at Tamar Lakes on Thursday 2 June for a family-friendly delve into how the natural world can support and nourish us in these busy times.

  • Spring bird checklist and how to make a bird feeder

    Spring bird checklist and how to make a bird feeder

    In spring there is a buzz of activity from our feathered friends - how many species can you count on your walk? We've created a bird spotting checklist for your walk and instructions for making a bird feeder so that you can encourage birds to your garden at home.

  • SW Lakes Weekly Trout Fisheries Round Up - W/E 17 April

    SW Lakes Weekly Trout Fisheries Round Up - W/E 17 April

    A summary of last week's fishing (11th-17th April) across the SW Lakes Trout fisheries.

Most read

  • Equipment Hire

    Equipment Hire

    Experience the ultimate family adventure by exploring the lakes at your own pace. We have a variety of watersports equipment available to hire including; kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards and more.

  • South West Lakes Booking Confirmation

    Thank you for your South West Lakes booking. You’ll receive a confirmation email shortly with details of your booking.

  • Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor

    Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor

    Wimbleball is a hub of colour and activity throughout all the seasons. Nestled within the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park, there are plenty of ways to get active at Wimbleball. With an array of walking and cycling trails winding around the 530 acre site, and a fantastic range of watersports and other activities available, this is the perfect location to spend a day outdoors – whether you are looking for a leisurely stroll or a challenging expedition.

  • Book Now

    Book Now

  • Self-launch and Launch Membership

    Self-launch and Launch Membership

    Already have your own kit? You can launch your own kayak, canoe, dingy or stand up paddleboard at our lakes! And, if you are a regular visitor, you can even become a member and launch as often as you like at all five activity centres!

  • Join the team

    Current vacancies

  • Roadford Lake, Devon

    Roadford Lake, Devon

    Roadford Lake sits within the stunning surroundings of the Wolf Valley, close to Launceston on the Cornwall border. One of the biggest and busiest inland waters in the South West, the lake is surrounded by a variety of natural habitats, including Culm Grasslands, woodlands, old pastures and orchards.

  • Wimbleball Campsite

    Wimbleball Campsite

    Experience a family camping holiday like no other at Wimbleball Lake, nestled in the hills of Exmoor National Park. Create the ultimate camping break packed with adventure, creating lasting memories for the whole family.

  • Siblyback, Cornwall

    Siblyback, Cornwall

    Surrounded by the striking backdrop of Bodmin Moor, Siblyback Lake lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). There is a beautiful 5km round lake circuit, which is perfect for pushchairs, wheelchairs and bicycles. The path runs adjacent to the lake, and passes by the impressive Siblyback Dam and through woodlands.

  • FAQs

    FAQs

    Want to find out more? Here you will find a list of frequently asked questions. If you still can't find what you are looking for, please contact our team who will be happy to help.

Latest tweet

Subscribe to our e-newsletter

* indicates required

Please tick the email button below if you would like to receive South West Lakes' monthly e-newsletter:

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Links

  • Contact
  • Jobs
  • Report an incident
  • Sitemap
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Manager
  • My Details

Registered with Fundraising Regulator badge white out


Registered Office:
Roadford Lake, Broadwoodwidger
Lifton, Devon, PL16 0RL
Open:
Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm
01566 771930
[email protected]

South West Lakes Trust Registered Charity No. 1079966     
Company No. 03946529
Find out more about visiting the lakes and the precautions we are taking during Covid-19 here.