STUDENTS from Tavistock completed ten weeks of practical tasks at Burrator which helped break down barriers and unlock ‘hidden creativity’.

Students aged between 11 and 16 took part in ‘Student Rangers’, an innovative programme run by the police, South West Lakes Trust and Tavistock College.

Now in its second term, Student Rangers is aimed at youngsters who may have emotional or behavioural needs, difficulty engaging with other people and forming positive relationships, or otherwise identified as requiring extra-curricular support to build self-confidence, provide direction and develop their characters and self-esteem.

The project was the brainchild of West Devon’s youth intervention officer PC Julian Fry and has involved pupils, aged between 11 and 16, undertaking a series of practical conservation tasks alongside SWLT volunteers from the local community and participating in dedicated outdoor skills learning experiences where they have developed a wide variety of skills, including survival and bushcraft, personal safety on the moors and knife crime awareness.

Funding for the project came from Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez’s ‘Connect to Protect’ Connectivity Innovation Fund. This fund is to take innovative and fresh approaches to connect with communities.

Ms Hernandez said: ‘I’m really pleased to support this fantastic project. It is an excellent opportunity for the local policing team to engage with young people who are not typically involved in mainstream education and could be exposed to criminal activity.

‘It’s great to see these prevention activities especially around topical issues such as knife crime, as well increasing police visibility and providing reassurance to the wider community.’

Police presence at these sessions has helped to break down barriers between the students and the police and has provided specific opportunities to carry out police related interventions and inputs.

PC Fry said: ‘The Tavistock Student Rangers Project grew from an idea I had a number of years ago to improve the level and quality of engagement between police and young people and it was through close co-operation with SWLT and Tavistock College that our successful application to the PCC’s “Connect to Protect” funding finally made it possible for this to happen.

‘It is really pleasing to see groups of youngsters coming through the project, gaining life skills, practical conservation skills, achieving a John Muir “discovery award” and breaking down any perceived barriers with their local police along the way. The project gives me a vital opportunity to deliver key policing messages to the youngsters as part of the programme and it also increases the visibility and accessibility of the police service at the open volunteering sessions.’

Andy Jerrett, transition and extended learning co-ordinator at Tavistock College, added: ‘I passionately believe that the Student Rangers project has sparked the imagination of our students and has helped to unlock their hidden creativity. All of the young people involved have come to understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment, increased their knowledge and the skills necessary to address complex environmental issues, as well as ways in which they can take action to keep our environment healthy and sustainable for the future.

‘The more that outdoor learning opportunities like this for young people can be integrated into the curriculum, the more that the students become enthusiastic and engaged in learning, which raises their achievement in core academic areas.’

Emily Cannon, community and learning officer at Burrator, said that this event was the second Student Rangers programme hosted at the site as last year SWLT hosted 14 Year 10 students for the Rangers’ programme.

‘It has been a unique opportunity for SWLT, not only to work closely with Tavistock College and the police, but equally to work with a group of young people over a period of time, seeing them develop confidence and new practical skills. The programme has also provided us with a unique opportunity for the young people and our volunteers to work together on practical conservation projects at Burrator, and promote inter-generational collaboration.’