We are passionate about sustaining a thriving countryside and take pride in opening up the countryside opportunities to all, nurturing our future countryside custodians.
Countryside Learning Scotland is an education charity based in Perthshire and was formed in 2003 to meet the need for outdoor learning in primarily secondary schools.
Today, we provide a variety of educational, training and career opportunities for people within Scotland’s countryside. In doing so, we encompass all areas of the countryside, from recreation to traditional land uses, therby helping to sustain Scotland’s countryside through education.
Our vision
is to provide a framework for Scotland that will enhance rural related career and life opportunities for young people and meet the employment needs of rural related businesses across Scotland, through the delivery of a progressive engaging pathway into employment across Scotland, working in partnership with employers and related agencies.
Many organisations deliver high-quality rural education at nursery and primary level; however, provision for secondary pupils is more limited. This initiative builds on existing work and helps bridge that gap.
As Scotland’s only countryside education charity focused on the secondary sector across all rural industries, we are uniquely placed to do this. We work regionally, in partnership with community groups, employers, schools, NGOs and colleges, to engage young people with the countryside. Our long-term aim is to support a more sustainable future for Scotland’s environment by highlighting its social, wellbeing, economic and environmental benefits.
Find out more about our projects that we deliver here.
The unique selling point of Pathways to Rural Work
What do we aim to do?
Improve positive outcomes and destinations for young people, for themselves and for rural employers.
Our Values
Our values are key to who we are and what we deliver across Scotland:
Inclusive
We work with young people regardless of academic ability, background, or additional support needs.
Impactful
Last year we worked with 4,574 young people, 133 rural related businesses, and 56 schools in Scotland.
Supportive
Our work is youth led and our team offers bespoke guidance to young people, educators and rural related businesses.
Collaborative
We work in partnership with a number of organisations including Developing the Young Workforce, Lantra, NatureScot and others.
For Young People:
we are like a guidance teacher, we want the best for everyone, we genuinely care about their futures and can support them and have the knowledge and contact to do so.
For Teachers and Schools:
we are caring, trustworthy and knowledgeable, like an extra staff member, who can organise events for the young people and help them pursure careers.
For Employers:
we are a way of reaching young people, where we will support them (physically) in helping get young people into their industries.
