Further Opportunities for Interns

Placements are reviewed every 8-12 weeks and staff will provide options on reviewing to ensure an Intern’s experiences continue to move them forwards. At some point, Interns will be ready to move on from Lucky Ewe to other destinations. The following are all potential options that an Intern may wish to explore depending on what stage they are at as well as their own personal preferences. Lucky Ewe has some capacity to support Interns to move on to opportunities outside of Lucky Ewe and we will discuss those on an individual basis.

Further options at Lucky Ewe following an initial 8-12 week placement:

We may suggest that you attend a different session on the farm to enable you to mix with different people, try out different activities and further build your confidence.
Most of our Interns attend during the weekdays taking time out of school or college. After some time, Interns often need to return to school full-time to concentrate on exam qualifications. Sometimes we then suggest that an Intern could attend our Sunday volunteering session. This session is less formal and attended by mostly adult volunteers. Interns who are able to engage independently could choose to come along to Sunday volunteering (0930-1230pm).
Each year we run short courses (5 days) to enable selected Interns to gain a SCQF Level 4 qualification in Rural Skills. This qualification could enhance your application to study a similar qualification at college. Our next course will be Summer 2023. An application is required to attend the course. Further details and dates to follow.

Further options outside of Lucky Ewe:

You may now be ready to start looking at opportunities outside of Lucky Ewe to further build your confidence and skills. The following information gives an idea of the options available:

Further experience on larger farms: We do have good contacts with local farmers across Fife working across a variety of sectors from beef, diary, arable to sheep and Llamas. Following a work placement with Lucky Ewe you will have decided that farming is a potential career option for you and you can discuss the option of gaining work placements on larger farms. Speak to the Farm support staff or email Caroline (supportanddevelopment@luckyewe.org.uk) to discuss further.
Short taster courses at SRUC Elmwood (Cupar): Elmwood can offer a variety of courses with flexible learning: For example, there are courses available to S4 – S6 pupils to help with the transition from school to college. You may also be ready to apply for a full-time course? Have a look at their website to find out what opportunities are available: https://www.sruc.ac.uk/courses-training/campuses/sruc-elmwood-fife/
Further recommended outdoor volunteering opportunities: We can recommend the following similar volunteering opportunities where you can continue to build on your skills longer term:
1. CLEAR (Buckhaven/Methil) https://www.clearfife.org.uk/ Main volunteering days are Wed /Thurs with opportunities in the garden, kitchen, bike workshop, wood workshop. See further details here. Have a look also at their Facebook page to see the latest news.
2. OverRankeilour Walled Garden (Cupar) – A community garden based opposite the Deer Centre on A91. Main volunteer session is Tues 10-1pm. Help to grow flowers and veg and renovate the garden. Facebook page, or contact Louise – walledgarden@west-hall.net.
3. Sunshine Kitchen (Cupar) – opportunities in the kitchen & garden, growing, making and serving seasonal food. https://thesunshinekitchen.co.uk/
4. Grow West Fife (Dunfermline) – a community garden based near Rosyth. Their mission is to help communities live healthily and sustainably by creating a productive, environment-friendly and beautiful fruit and vegetable garden, open and accessible to all. They have open sessions on Mondays and Thursdays where all are welcome to come to their peaceful space and to learn about growing fruit and vegetables while taking time to cook and enjoy eating them together. Grow West Fife can offer community plots, individual plots as well group activities for beginners through to advanced gardeners. https://www.facebook.com/groups/398691724453755 Contact Rob Davidson 07714768341 hello@growestfife.org
5. Fife Voluntary Action also have an extensive list of local volunteering opportunities across all sectors. https://www.fva.org/volunteer.asp
Further volunteering opportunities that support those with additional support needs
1. Uppertunity (Dundee) – a social enterprise offering mental wellbeing and skill development services to adults They offer: creative workshops, group and community work, mentoring, skill development programs, meaningful volunteering roles, jobs and social events. https://www.facebook.com/Uppertunity www.uppertunity.org.uk
2. Murton Trust (Forfar) – Farm, Tearoom and Nature Reserve – opportunity for work experience and employment. https://www.facebook.com/MurtonTrust www.murtontrust.org.uk
Employment / Training opportunities
1. Ringlink Scotland – https://ringlinkscotland.co.uk/pre-apprenticeship/ Pre-Apprentice Programme – Applications are now open for 2023 (Closing date 31 March 2023). Aimed at 16-21 yr olds. Great videos on Facebook page showing examples of past pre-apprentices. https://www.facebook.com/RinglinkScotlandLtd An ideal pathway for progression within the wider rural sector (including farming, horticulture, food production, forestry, game and wildlife, conservation and landscaping) allowing new entrants to earn and learn in the workplace whilst also gaining a vocational qualification (SCQF4).
2. Rural Skills Scotland – https://www.ruralskillsscotland.com/ SCQF Level 5 Workbased qualifications (Estate maintenance, Environmental conservation or General woodland /Forestry Treework).
3. Grounds for Growth training programme (Kirkcaldy/SW Fife) – If you would like more information, or to apply, please contact Jacky Carstairs. Email – jacky@ruralskillsscotland.com or tel: 07725 849671. Intakes at set times over the year. An initial 5-week introductory programme which will provide training in First Aid, Health and Safety, Manual Handling and an industry recognised certificate in Brush Cutting and Strimming. You will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of outdoor based tasks to gain some work experience. Although this part of the programme is unpaid, they will be provided with a bus ticket, appropriate PPE and work 4 days per week, usually Monday to Thursday. After the initial programme you will be guaranteed an interview for a 12-week full time waged programme which is paid at the Scottish Living wage level. During this period, they will be given the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, building on the skills they will have already gained whilst learning new ones.

Websites / Facebook groups to follow for employment opportunities:

Jobs in Fife – https://www.facebook.com/groups/328167663989638
Lantra Scotland https://www.facebook.com/lantrascotland
Apprenticeships.Scot https://www.facebook.com/ScottishApprenticeships (www.apprenticeships.scot/find-a-vacancy/)
Opportunities Fife https://www.facebook.com/OpportunitiesFife
Fife Council’s pre-employment programme working in Partnership with Outdoor Education Fife and Rural Skills Scotland are offering an excellent 6-month outdoor training opportunity. The project seeks to promote Net Zero, Green jobs and upskill local young people who want to enter the wider environmental & land-based industries in a community based Environmental project. Participants will also undertake a range of employability activities including learning about the work environment, meeting employer expectations, CV building and much more.
Fife and Kinross Association of Young Farmers Clubs https://www.facebook.com/groups/35993709074165

Further Opportunities for Interns

Lucky Ewe

Contact Us