EIGHT young people have completed The Prince’s Trust five-week Get into Woodlands programme.

A number of them have been in long-term unemployment or have not been able to secure consistent work.

The trust programme, supported by MVision and run in partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall Estate, Herefordshire and Ludlow College (HLC) and the Forestry Commission, is in its third year.

The initiative includes two weeks of hands-on experience with local forestry firms as well as three weeks of intensive college training work with the Duchy Estate team and a series of visits to local companies concerned with trees and timber.

The group gained important qualifications, and developed its confidence, motivation and skills in forestry. Partners and numerous businesses all met to congratulate the young group, encouraging them to further their careers.

Rob Dunn, assistant principal at HLC’s Holme Lacy Campus, presented the group with certificates which included competency in chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting, emergency first-aid and manual handling.

“It’s been heartening to listen to these young people speaking here today and to see how much they have all achieved,” he said.

“I am really proud that the Holme Lacy Campus Forestry team could be involved in the project and the outcome has been so successful.”

Gaye Warwick, from The Prince’s Trust who co-ordinated the project, said the group had been dedicated to its work and impressed with its commitment and enthusiasm.

“Following the programme The Prince’s Trust and Herefordshire and Ludlow College will help the young people to move into employment, education, or training, providing support with post programme opportunities, such as jobs and apprenticeships within the industry,” she said.

“The young people have been a great group and a pleasure to work with, that's emphasised by the amount of tutors and employers who have come to support them today.”

Sam Johnson, a 21-year-old from Leominster, started the programme having been unemployed for some time.

He said: “I am from Surrey originally and I was doing outdoor work there, the odd bit of pruning and gardening.

“It was quite difficult to find work when I moved here, perhaps because it is much more rural. The Prince’s Trust programme has been really good. We have all got on so well.”

Also attending the presentation was Mounir Guen, CEO from MVision Private Equity Advisers who sponsored the event.

“I believe in moving forward and giving young people every opportunity to do that,” said Mounir. “This project hopes to give that differential chance and life can sometimes be about that one opportunity that moves you forward."

“I also wanted to encourage the group to look at the people here today, all of whom have worked hard to give them this key opportunity in their lives. It shows that there are people in life that really do care.”