The AgriFuture Scholarship Programme has given 22 Year 10 pupils the opportunity to visit Parliament, develop their leadership skills and explore the vital links between farming and the UK’s capital city.
The two-day trip began on Sunday 28 June with a visit to Surrey Docks Farm, where participants toured the site and experienced some of the activities involved in running the farm, such as bedding and feeding the animals and making compost.
On Monday, the scholars took a tour of Parliament and visited the NFU’s London office where they took part in a public speaking training session run by Loudspeaker, learning the skills they need to speak in public with confidence.
The AgriFuture Scholarship Programme – a collaboration between the NFU, British Ethnicity and Diversity Society and Equalinks - aims to improve diversity and inclusion in the agriculture sector by supporting and attracting young people from racially marginalised backgrounds through a tailored programme of mentoring, residential trips and work placements.
Its goal is to support young people to enter and progress into agricultural careers, that may otherwise feel inaccessible.
“There is a role for everyone in agriculture, and events like this allow us to showcase that to young people.”
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt
Investing in the future
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt said: “It is great to see young people getting involved on farm and learning important skills like public speaking, which will ensure they are well equipped as they carry on in their schooling and ultimately enter the world of work.
“There is a role for everyone in agriculture, and events like this allow us to showcase that to young people. By encouraging the next generation to get involved in the industry, we are investing in the future of our domestic food production, one that is brimming with the ideas and perspectives of people from all different cultures and backgrounds.”
