Field Studies Council – bringing environmental understanding to all
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We love partnering with the Field Studies Council (FSC), as they do some amazing work to bring the environment to life. Through their Bursary Fund they offer experiences in the natural world to those who may otherwise not get the chance - encouraging more people to look after the environment, as they gain a better understanding of how their actions have an impact on it.
The outdoors is for everyone – by FSC
We believe that having access to experiences in and of the natural world should be the right of everyone, not just the privilege of the few. As an environmental education charity, FSC wants to ensure it provides opportunities for everyone to benefit from learning outdoors, regardless of age, ability or background.
FSC offers a host of opportunities to explore and learn about the natural world, and a big part of this is welcoming school groups - supporting them with fieldwork, helping to improve their subject learning, and providing valuable time connecting with the natural world.
It has been reported that schools in England would need 50 years of focussed work to close the attainment gap - the difference in performance between the most disadvantaged students and their peers. Currently at GCSE stage the most disadvantaged are found to be two years behind their classmates (The Independent).
To ensure the opportunity to develop learning through outdoor experiences is not just something available for better-off students to benefit from, FSC works hard to subsidise places through its Bursary Fund. This fund provides financial support to students from the most deprived areas in the UK, enabling them to attend field courses with the rest of their class.
Recent groups benefitting from this fund to support their students have said:
“The students from our college all live in inner-city areas and for the vast majority this was the first time that they had set foot in the countryside - one student asked me what ‘wellies’ were!”
“The impact of using the FSC has meant better outcomes for all our students which has made a massive difference to their future options.”
“It’s possible that some of our poorest students may have been unable to take A level geography without financial support for the fieldwork. Therefore, we rely on this bursary to ensure our course remains inclusive.”
FSC has other initiatives in place to help reach those who may not otherwise be able to take part such as the Young Environmentalists Fund for 16-25 year olds. Some of the proudest FSC moments are in reaching people who may not otherwise have had the chance, and making opportunities available to everyone.
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