Earlier in the year, we launched the Young Birders’ Support Scheme, to encourage the next generation to develop an interest in birding. The Scheme offers funding up to £500 for equipment, field guides, training and travel costs.

The first seven successful applicants have now been selected. Aged between 18 and 24, these young men and women all impressed us with their enthusiasm: some are keen to learn more about ringing and taking part in surveys, others wanted to improve their identification skills (by sight and sound) and most asked for help with funding courses. SOS is planning to host two training days to cover these topics, with the first one, on bird identification, taking place in June. We will also be covering costs of courses run by BTO and Field Studies Council, as requested.

We have provided binoculars, scopes and field guides to several of the applicants, who have all been keen to let us know of the feedback they will provide to show how they have used the support we have provided.

We will be accepting further applications later in the year, with a closing date of 1st October.

Thanks to Opticron for their generous sponsorship of the scheme.