New video to showcase the young people protecting Cornwall’s coastline

More than 16,000 young people have been given the opportunity to boost their employability thanks to a collaboration between Cornwall Wildlife Trust and The Cornwall College Group (TCCG). 

The Your Shore Beach Rangers Project, which is being showcased in a new film launching today, is also helping students to improve their health and wellbeing tools to ensure a bright future for both themselves and the local environment. 

Former Cornwall College Newquay student and Beach Ranger graduate, Zoe Gasgoyne, said the project gave her the confidence to speak up. 

She commented: “I have gone on to work for Parley for the Oceans on their summer tour and continued to engage with my local community with new projects including community recycling programmes, Yellow Fish Campaign projects and engaging with the secondary school on marine art days.  

“I know whatever job I move into next I will continue to strive for sustainability and have the confidence to suggest ideas in whatever sector I am in.” 

Young people in Cornwall are facing a crisis, as emerging evidence from The Health Foundation on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shows that people aged 12–24 years are one of the worst-affected groups, particularly in terms of the labour market and mental health outcomes.  

But the success of the Beach Rangers Academy has meant that young people who are passionate about the marine environment have been empowered and given the chance to gain the skills, confidence and experience they need to pursue an environmental career if they wish, and to volunteer and make their voice heard. 

The project has spent the last five years uniting communities and young people in Cornwall to combat threats to their local marine environment whilst also providing the support and training needed via its Beach Ranger Academy to ensure that the next generation have the skills they need to be proactive in creating positive change in their lives. 

Working successfully in more than 16 schools, two universities, eight colleges, as well as several youth and home school groups around Cornwall, the Beach Rangers academy has seen the graduation of 548 Beach Rangers who have completed specified hours of volunteering, skills training, event planning, and fitness and wellbeing.  

Thousands more young people have also been impacted by the Project, by either attending public events, partaking in training within their school, or linking with one of Cornwall’s marine local marine groups. 

YSBR is part of the National Lottery Community Fund’s Our Bright Future movement, one of 31 youth-led projects around the UK which empower young people to help their local environment. 

They achieve this through ‘Three Asks’, identified by their Youth Forum as what young people want from organisations: more time spent learning in and about nature, support in getting into environmental careers, and to have an environmental voice which is listened to by employers, organisations and policy makers. 

Abby Crosby, YSBR Project Manager said: “Young people deserve a healthy planet, a thriving economy and a bright future. Currently, this vision is being tainted by huge hardships faced during the present pandemic. This makes projects like Your Shore Beach Rangers and those others in the Our Bright Future portfolio so valuable and timely, both on a local and national scale.” 

Though the Your Shore Beach Rangers project is ending in Spring 2021, it leaves a legacy of amazing opportunities to get involved in marine conservation in Cornwall. Educational resources for the  Beach Rangers Academy training will be available through a Cornwall College website, so schools, youth groups and families can continue to educate and empower young people.

You can view the video below: