BUSY BUZZY WORK EXPERIENCE 2025

Tending Hope Wood’s recently planted trees, chatting with the Hub users and providers from South Brent & District Caring; helping little ones in SSB’s Community School Garden; visiting South Brent Community Energy Society’s wind turbine; helping to distribute surplus food from SSB’s Tuesday Fair Share; checking in with Cows in Clover’s conservation grazers; making compost in SSB’s Community Compost Centre; finding out about SSB’s Repair Café, the Community Market Garden and the Hedges and Wood Group.  Phew!  That’s quite a lot for 17-year-olds to pack into one week’s Work Experience, but the five who attended rose so well to the challenge and they didn’t stop there.

After all that effort, there was some thinking to do: how do those activities relate to the students’ A-level studies, to their career ambitions, and to a wider global context?  How does the work meet SSB’s aim of creating a resilient, low-carbon community where all life thrives?  What does ‘resilient’ even mean in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss?

Those reflections were then gathered together and presented by the students to the SSB activity providers and our Energy Society and Cows in Clover friends, all accompanied – of course – by tea and cake and conversation.  A lovely finale to our time together.

Big thanks go to all who provided input and volunteering opportunities.  You welcomed us in so warmly and the week couldn’t have happened without your kind engagement.  Thank you.

Hayden Gabriel

 

We also actively support Duke of Edinburgh Award students by providing volunteering opportunities with an environmental focus. For further information, contact: yaa@ssb.org.uk.

 

Team Work: SSB and the Dartside Explorer Scouts

Who knew that tree-planting by moon-, torch-, and candlelight could be such fun? On a crisp and beautiful evening, Dartside Explorer Scouts met with SSB volunteers at Didworthy to plant the 45 trees supplied by the Woodland Trust and Devon County Council initiative. Hot chocolate around the log fire rounded off this magical evening.

 

Good job done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand-printed wrapping paper; using natural materials to make seasonal wreaths; sewing fabric gift bags, and making reusable wax-wraps were all part of the SSB/Dartside Explorer Scouts ‘Greening Christmas’ event. A big thank you to the many volunteers who facilitated these waste-saving activities.

Work Experience Students from Ivybridge Community College

 

Four delightful Year 12 students from Ivybridge Community College spent a week with SSB in July 2022, working hard to produce the many hand-painted signs and textile decor needed for the Fair for South Brent. Aided by some wonderful SSB volunteers, they worked wonders – and the signage produced not only helped with the lively atmosphere on the day, but will also live on for future events. Big thanks to the excellent facilitators – Eva and Stuart especially – and to Andy and Jen for hosting.

 

Young Adult Ambassadors

SSB is delighted to welcome two young people as Young Adult Ambassadors. Izabel and Eleanor have already been out and about visiting SSB’s projects. Here are their thoughts on taking up the volunteer YAA role:

 

I’m Eleanor and I joined SSB as a Young Adult Ambassador because being part of a community that is seeking to create a more sustainable way of living is really important to me. I am proud of where I live and I want to ensure future generations can also be proud of their homes and green spaces. I also would really like to see green measures such as electric vehicles and solar panels become more affordable and accessible to a wider range of people. I hope to be able to bring knowledge from my current Environmental studies to support the work of SSB and I hope to use my experience with SSB to contextualise my environmental studies. I am very much looking forward to supporting SSB’s wide-ranging projects.

 

I’m Izabel. As a Young Adult Ambassador for Sustainable South Brent, I intend to help inspire sustainability, through education and engagement, for all generations. I hope that through our shared efforts we continue to make a difference and enjoy ourselves in the process. I have recently completed my degree in Biology with a focus in conservation and climate change and am hoping to progress into conservation research.

Our YAAs are already working on a social media campaign to support our projects. This should help to attract more young people to engage more widely with SSB projects, for the benefit of all.

If you’re aged between 16 and 21 and the volunteer role of being a Young Adult Ambassador appeals to you, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply using the online form, or for more information contact the YAA Liaison Trustee, Hayden Gabriel by emailing yaa@ssb.org.uk

This is a video presentation about SSB Young Adult Ambassadors scheme:

 

Young-Adult-Ambassadors_Presentation-for-ICC-on-2022-07-01We welcome applications from anyone between the ages of 16 and 21 years, who lives in or near South Brent or has a very close connection, e.g. students who spend term-time elsewhere.

To apply to be a Young Adult Ambassador please complete the application form here.

 

 

 

 

Documents and Resources