A young environmental worker has credited a Cumbernauld charity with helping her launch her career in the conservation industry.

Alex Paterson, 26, worked as a trainee for Cumbernauld Living Landscape in 2022, leading its ‘Creating Natural Connections’ project that sought to help locals maximise their green space and get in touch with nature.

Paterson now works for The Conservation Volunteers in Glasgow but credits the £1.4m National Lottery-funded project as the key that opened the doors to her dream role.

“Before the traineeship I was doing fundraising for an environmental charity but that wasn’t really where I wanted to be,” said Paterson.

“[During my time at the project] I was involved with the nature rangers, the wild ways well which was about mental health, outdoor education and I did some social media and training days so there were lots of different aspects and it was a greater start for me to learn a lot in a short period of time.

“I had a Masters degree and I struggled to find any job for six months, and then I got the fundraising job which wasn’t doing direct conservation. 

“It is really hard to get into the industry and having traineeships like that are vital.

“Especially being paid, an issue in the industry is that people expected to work for free. The fact that this was a fully funded traineeship was massive. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Alex was able to break the glass ceiling into the conservation industry, but still believes more can be done to get more people from different backgrounds into that world.

“Our industry is lacking diversity,” she added. “It’s predominantly people who are white and middle class.Not everyone can work for free or low pay for a long time.

“We need more opportunities for people who aren’t white and well-off. That’s what the industry is missing.”

Figures released today show that more than £3 Billion of National Lottery good causes funding has been invested over the last decade into projects like Cumbernauld Living Landscape  which specifically support and develop children and young people.

Over the past 10 years, this huge investment which has had a positive life-changing impact on children and young people across the UK, has supported over 58,000 projects which has helped them learn new skills, develop their communities as well giving them the tools to enhance their lives and the lives of others.

Thanks to National Lottery players, the funding is providing greater opportunities in life for many children and young people across the environment, arts, education, community, heritage and sport – with a big proportion of the money helping to connect young people with their environment and teaching them how to protect it.

The environment is an issue close to the hearts of young people. Many of the volunteers in our communities who seek to drive change and educate people about how to look after our environment are the younger generation. The National Lottery distributors are dedicated to helping young people continue that passion through funding incredible projects across the UK to help them unlock their potential. 

Paterson added: “More traineeships that are paid and funded, especially ones that are targeted to other groups, are super important.”

National Lottery players have contributed over £3 billion to projects that support children and young people in the last 10 years within the arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport, and voluntary projects across the UK; see the difference it’s making near you at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk