Young people across Ulster have seen their lives transformed by a National Lottery-funded project that seeks to diversify the heritage and conservation sector.

Nature Skills NI, run by Ulster Wildlife, delivered 21 environmental conservation traineeships with the aim of opening up the doors of the industry to those not normally afforded access.

The traineeships, which were powered by over £400,000 in National Lottery funding, saw participants exposed to a wide range of skills and knowledge training to equip them for roles in the sector, with 25-year-old Aaron Kelly now hellbent on setting up his own environmental charity.

“They are not just helping me to help themselves, they are also helping me for the future,” said Kelly, from Ballymurphy.

“I don’t think I would be where I am now without the traineeship, I would still be working on a building site. I was a bricklayer, and it was good money, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. They have given me that extra hand, so now I am confident in setting up this charity and looking after a nature reserve.

“At the start, I was a little bit nervous talking in front of big groups but, through the traineeship, I have built my confidence. It has given me a lot of connections inside the world of conservation.

"I have been getting to know people, and people doing the job I want. I know exactly what I need to do to go and get it. It gets you into that loop.”

Moragaine McParland also saw her eyes opened by the course, with the 24-year-old now feeling perfectly equipped to apply for jobs in the green sector thanks to her newfound skills and confidence.

“I don’t know what I would have done if I wasn’t on the course,” said McParland. 

“It was an amazing experience and the fact that I even had the opportunity, it’s so important to have these things in place to help people get into the green sector as it is notoriously difficult.”

Figures released today show that more than £3 Billion of National Lottery good causes funding has been invested over the last decade to projects like Nature Skills NI which specifically support and develop children and young people.

Over the past 10 years, this huge investment which has had a positive life-changing impact on children and young people across the UK, has supported over 58,000 projects which has helped them learn new skills, develop their communities as well giving them the tools to enhance their lives and the lives of others.

Thanks to National Lottery players, the funding is providing greater opportunities in life for many children and young people across the environment, arts, education, community, heritage and sport – with a big proportion of the money helping to connect young people with their environment and teaching them how to protect it.

The environment is an issue close to the hearts of young people. Many of the volunteers in our communities who seek to drive change and educate people about how to look after our environment are the younger generation. The National Lottery distributors are dedicated to helping young people continue that passion through funding incredible projects across the UK to help them unlock their potential. 

McParland added: “Having that experience and the ability to open that door is so important. It was a really incredible experience. I would not feel as confident going into a green sector job as I do now.”

National Lottery players have contributed over £3 billion to projects that support children and young people in the last 10 years within the arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport, and voluntary projects across the UK; see the difference it’s making near you at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk