Spring-Line
26 August 2008, This English Heritage outreach project was initially developed in summer 2007 and was aimed at raising awareness amongst young people of the need to protect the historic landscape and local distinctiveness of the South Downs and its villages. The project aimed to provide opportunities for young people to find out and learn about rural crafts and traditional building skills relevant to their local area and to enable them to perceive this as a future career option.
The young people taking part in the project explored the sustainable management of woodlands at The Sustainability Centre in East Meon and traditional craft skills related to the built environment at the Weald and Downland Museum in West Sussex. The feedback from the initial stage of the project was very positive but did suggest that detailed careers advice and follow on opportunities needed to be provided to ensure the young people genuinely have the opportunity to take their interests further in the future. With this in mind the young people are now taking part in three site visits and three extended workshops to find out about the reality of employment in the sector and to focus on the crafts they enjoyed.
In addition, to ensure the young people are given sound careers advice and information to take their training further if they choose to, two new elements to the project have been developed. The young people will be given an opportunity to present and share what they have done through the project to family, friends and professionals from the SERCSAG group. Secondly, a seminar for Connexions workers who advise young people on employment, training and career opportunities is being organised. The event will have a heritage focus and will combine a programme of speaker with practical activity and demonstrations. SERCSAG is supporting this event and it is hoped that if this pilot initiative is successful it will be rolled out elsewhere in the region and beyond.