Hi everybody my name is Philip Taylor and I have been working as a Natural Networks Trainee for TCV for just under a month now.
The last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind to be honest but also very exciting at the same time. Before I began at my placement in South Gloucestershire, myself and my fellow trainees from around the country were treated to a two day induction at Skelton Grange Environment Centre in Leeds. This was a great way to begin my employment with TCV as it gave me the opportunity to meet my new colleagues and find out about each other’s placement and what we would be doing over the coming year. It was also a fantastic opportunity to learn a bit more about TCV as an organisation and the fantastic work it does for local communities and the environment.
After completing the induction it was straight to work at the Tree Life Centre in Kingswood, Bristol to begin my placement. As part of my placement I am required to work three days of the week with South Gloucestershire Council and the remaining two days of the week with TCV at either the Tree Life Centre or out an about in the local area undertaking various conservation tasks, working with local green space friends groups. The main priority of my role is to work with local friends groups who help look after green spaces within their communities and to ensure that they have adequate funding, skills and knowledge to undertake and keep up the great work that they are doing and where possible to implement any improvements if needed. South Gloucestershire Council work closely with all the local friends groups and are providing me with the resources, tools and information to begin my role.
So far my role has been extremely varied and interesting and has provided me with a great deal of experience and I have learnt so much in such a short space of time. I am really looking forward to the coming months and getting to work with the local friends groups and to find out where they need support and to implement positive changes. I will keep you all updated on my progress, so expect to hear from me in the not too distant future.