THANKS to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, Breedon Group and Action Renewables NI, the highly successful Trainee Ranger Scheme, which has been a core part of the Belfast Hills Partnership’s youth programme, will return for another year as part of their new project ‘Young, Wild and Well’.
The Trainee Ranger Scheme is for young people aged 18-30 who are facing mental and physical health struggles, special educational needs and disabilities, discrimination or other forms of disadvantage.
The free scheme aims to improve the health and wellbeing of those taking part by getting them out into nature and forging friendships with other participants. It also offers young people an opportunity to boost their employability whilst providing training and practical experience in the environmental sector.
The Trainee Ranger Scheme is aimed at young people who want to gain skills and qualifications that will help them move on to employment or further training. No prior experience is necessary. Training is provided, so all abilities and backgrounds are welcome.
Weekly tasks include:
- Habitat management (e.g. invasive species removal, tree planting etc.)
- Foraging
- Bird ringing
- Woodwork
- Wildlife surveys
- Hikes
- Site visits, to explore the ‘behind the scenes’ of the Hills
- Meetings with professionals and networking activities to provide insights into different employment options available in the sector
- Employability workshop
- LANTRA accredited training for strimmers and brushcutters
- Level 2 AQA accredited course in “Facilitating Nature Based Activities for Wellbeing”, delivered in collaboration with the Ulster Wildlife.
Past participants of the Scheme have gone on to secure employment with groups such as Belfast Hills Partnership, Ulster Wildlife, RSPB, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), CEDaR, Ordnance Survey and the National Trust.
The Belfast Hills Partnership welcome hardworking and enthusiastic individuals aged 18–30 who may be unemployed, looking to gain work experience and increase their employability skills or simply experience something new. The scheme is also for people who want to work outdoors and do their bit to care for nature.
Silvia Galli, Youth Engagement Officer for the Belfast Hills Partnership, said: “I am so delighted that we get to continue the Trainee Ranger Scheme as part of Young, Wild and Well. It’s very rewarding to see how young people grow in their confidence every week and go on to achieve great things following their completion on the course.”
Application Process
The scheme will be slightly different this year in that we are only accepting applications from young people aged 18-30 who are facing mental and physical health struggles, special educational needs and disabilities or other forms of discrimination or disadvantage.
Applicants should be aware that they will be expected to work as a team throughout the whole duration of the programme and to do a short public individual presentation at the end of the scheme.
A minimum level of fitness is required, as the programme will involve being physically active, going on hikes and spending full days outdoors in all weathers.
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 1st September 2026 at 5pm.
Applicants will then meet with Silvia for an informal chat to ensure the scheme is suitable for them during the week commencing 7th September. This can be done in person or online.
The scheme starts on Tuesday 22nd September, and takes place every Tuesday for sixteen weeks from 10am to 3pm. There will be a break at Halloween and Christmas. To apply simply visit www.belfasthills.org/traineerangerscheme
For more information email silvia.galli@belfasthills.org or phone the Belfast Hills Partnership office on 028 9060 3466.
The Trainee Ranger Scheme is part of ‘Young, Wild and Well’, a new project which will build on the legacy of Wild Youth. The joint project will between the Belfast Hills Partnership and Ulster Wildlife continue to support young people’s mental and physical health in the outdoors. ‘Young, Wild and Well’ will be delivered in collaboration with Ulster Wildlife and Barnardo’s NI and is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund NI, Breedon Group and Action Renewables.
