Environmental fund to train hundreds of young people in West Midlands
A wildlife trust and charity have received 1.49m to train young people from diverse backgrounds to help them get environmental sector jobs. UpRising and Shropshire Wildlife Trust received National Lottery funding to launch the free programme. The aim is to engage people aged 18-25 from a range of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds with nature. Amira Ismail, from UpRising, said there was currently a lack of diversity in the environmental profession. She said the programme, which is open to people across the West Midlands region, would create young leaders "at the forefront of driving change in the future". UpRising, based in Birmingham, is a UK-wide youth leadership development organisation and charity with an aim to "open up pathways for diverse talented young people who may lack opportunities". The programme, called the Environmental Leadership Programme 2.0 (ELP), also aims to deepen young people's understanding of what drives environmental behaviour change, leading them to develop nature-focused campaigns in their local communities. Research by Shropshire Wildlife Trust found 65% of young people aged 18-24 are extremely concerned about climate change, 78% would like to do more to tackle it and 18% currently campaign about it. Helen Trotman, from the trust, said: "We know that nature benefits people's mental and physical health and a better connection with nature empowers people to do more for our environment." Students will spend nine months taking part in the free programme and there will be 100 young people in each cohort. Applications are currently open for the course which begins in October. In total, the ELP programme will run for four years. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk Funding secured for nature and landscape projects Boost to help community groups beat rising costs Shropshire Wildlife Trust ELP More than 100 sun worshippers rescued after being trapped by incoming tide Fire crews called out to blaze involving three tonnes of cut grass in Telford New ART-efact Exhibition opens its doors in Oswestry celebrating culture in town Shropshire: Ellesmere Town Council gives funding to local groups Oswestry councillor wants end to animal prizes at funfairs Ludlow attacker in court after assaulting woman in town incident Race against time to save Morocco quake survivors US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake. Video At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake Inside the horror of Europe's biggest wildfire Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.