Local students to form sustainable projects in new hands-on course

Local community projects are to be recognised as model sustainable development initiatives in a new course offered by Bicton College at Dartington.

This all-new NCFE Level 1 Award in Sustainable Development from Bicton College is scheduled to start on Tuesday 22nd April. It will be a 10 week course, 4 hours per session, every Tuesday with a break for half-term. It is free to anyone over 19 and looking for work, and available to anyone else for a course fee of £250.

As well as the Level 1 qualification, students will learn from a host of pioneering local initiatives, and work on developing a project of their own.
The aim is for students to upskill in what it takes to stay and be active in their community. This includes starting community-scale projects and enterprises that provide jobs, strengthen community, improve the environment and address global issues.

"We'll take a DIY approach to learning and creating opportunities," says tutor Laura Denning, who runs a Woodfuel from Hedgerows project aimed at combatting fuel-poverty. "We will learn from inspiring local initiatives from across South Devon - where regular people are rolling their sleeves up and having a go.”

Tutor Hal Gillmore has helped establish projects including Transition Streets, The REconomy Centre and Dart Leader, and comes from a South Devon farming family.

"We'll be exploring themes like food, energy, waste, water and economics, and approaching it from an individual and community angle, i.e. what does this mean to you and your community.”

“As well as the qualification, participants will get help starting a mini-project of their own,’ adds Laura. “It doesn’t matter if people don’t have a specific project idea; they should still enroll. It will be a great opportunity to learn from others, build confidence and employment skills and realise their own potential and that of their community.”

To book call 01395 562400 or for further details email Laura on lauradenning2@ gmail.com.