- Duration
7 Weeks | 1 day per week
- Location
- Stanmer Campus
Course Overview
Take your first step into animal care, wildlife and conservation with this practical, hands-on programme designed to build confidence, develop new skills and explore future opportunities.
Delivered in partnership with the Butterfly House at One Garden Brighton, this seven-week programme gives you the chance to take part in practical animal care, wildlife and conservation activities in a supportive learning environment based in Stanmer Park.
With no previous animal experience required, you'll learn through practical activities, develop employability and personal development skills, and explore your next steps into education, training or employment.
Why choose this course?
- Get hands-on with animals and wildlife: Take part in practical animal care, conservation and outdoor learning activities.
- Learn in a real-world environment: Gain experience through the Butterfly House partnership at One Garden Brighton.
- Build your confidence: Develop practical skills and workplace behaviours in a small, supportive group.
- No previous experience needed: An accessible introduction to animal care and conservation for beginners.
- Develop employability skills: Improve teamwork, communication, reliability and personal development.
- Explore progression opportunities: Discover pathways into further education, training and employment.
Modules
This non-accredited Level 1 programme provides practical learning across animal care, wildlife and conservation.
Key learning areas include:
- Introduction to animal care and welfare
- Practical animal care activities
- Wildlife and conservation
- Outdoor and practical learning
- Teamwork and communication
- Employability and personal development
- Exploring future education, training and career opportunities
Specific modules and activities to be confirmed.
Assessment
This is a non-accredited programme, with learning focused on practical experience, personal development and employability rather than formal qualification assessment.
You'll develop your skills through:
- Hands-on animal care, wildlife and conservation activities.
- Supported practical learning and guidance.
- Teamwork, communication and workplace behaviours.
- Personal development and confidence-building activities.
- Exploring progression into further education, training or employment.
Entry Requirements
- This programme is designed for young people aged 16–18 who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET).
- An interest in animals, wildlife, conservation or practical outdoor learning.
- No previous animal care experience required.
- Suitable for learners who may not currently be ready to engage with a conventional full-time study programme.
- Eligibility and referral route to be confirmed.
Bursaries
Financial support could be available to you depending on your household income, eligibility criteria, and level of study. A bursary, which is money given directly by the Government, could help fund bus travel, accommodation, course equipment, college meals, or educational trips.
Course Fees
Students aged 16-18 on 31st August in the year of starting the course do not pay tuition fees.
Students aged 19-23 studying their Level 1, 2 or first Level 3 may be entitled to tuition fee waiver depending on criteria eligibility.
Students aged 24+ who are studying a second Level 3 course or aged 24+ who are studying their first Level 3 course will have to pay tuition fees, depending on the course.
Students on low income who can prove they earn less than £25,000 (from September 2024); are unemployed; or receive state benefits could be entitled to a tuition fee waiver.
All students pay a standard facility fee of £150 to use communal, non-educational facilities.
Material fees apply to Floristry, Blacksmithing and Metalwork, Agricultural Engineering, and Motor Vehicle students, which contribute to quality resources and equipment for their studies.
