Want to be a Beach Ranger?

Young people across the county have been benefiting from the launch of an exciting new programme, designed to offer valuable life skills and accredited qualifications against the backdrop of Cornwall’s stunning marine environment.

The Beach Rangers Academy, part of the Your Shore Beach Rangers project run in partnership between Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall College Newquay, encourages young people aged 16 to 24 to connect with Cornwall’s marine surroundings through a structured programme of personal development. Through engaging activities that will build confidence, teamwork, communication and other life skills, the programme not only increases employability but also raises awareness of important environmental issues to a wider audience.

 Beach Ranger Academy Leader Ruth Martin, said: “It’s a really exciting opportunity for young people to gain training, awards and rewards that will make them more employable. The Academy recognises the special places we live and encourages young people to celebrate and protect them.”

Using Cornwall’s inspirational coastline as a setting, this last month has seen the programme gaining momentum, with a large number of aspiring Beach Rangers taking part in various training sessions at both Cornwall College Newquay and the College’s beachside classrooms at Tolcarne Beach.

So far, the Rangers were given an insight into the importance of beach safety training by a supervisor from Newquay RNLI lifeboat station, as well as a basic first aid training sessions from Staying Alive Cornwall. The programme also provides training in marine environmental issues, mindfulness, survey techniques including shore and snorkel surveys, nutrition, the ethics of farming and aquaculture, marine species identification, and experience in planning and organising outdoor events and activities.   

The Beach Ranger Academy is one of thirty one youth-led projects across the UK receiving funding to give young people the skills and knowledge to improve their local environments – from reducing marine pollution to minimising food waste. In Cornwall, The project will be recruiting 180 Beach Rangers, building their confidence and resilience to become environmental leaders and influence decisions at local and national levels.

Beach Ranger Academy Leader Brender Wilmott said: “The Beach Rangers Academy is an adventure, stretching young people to learn new skills that are directly applicable to their future development and employability. Trained Beach Rangers will go on to organise and lead public engagement activities that promote the local marine environment to local secondary school pupils and the general public, enabling them to gain new skills relevant to finding jobs, training, volunteering opportunities, or starting entrepreneurial projects that contribute to the green economy. If you are looking to learn new skills, meet interesting people, be part of a community and achieve qualifications that will look great on your CV, we would love to see you get involved.” 

 For more information on the Cornwall Beach Rangers Academy, find out more at: www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/YSBR 

or email: beachrangers@cornwall.ac.uk