Bonita
Policy Assistant
Age - 19
The accessible and policy-focused placement at The Woodland Trust felt like a unique opportunity for Bonita to contribute to meaningful change in environmental policy.
The New to Nature programme provided them with the perfect opportunity to build their skills and explore whether a career in the environmental sector was the right fit for them.
Before their placement, Bonita had taken a gap year, which they spent doing a variety of work from teaching in the Philippines to being an archery instructor. After attending an event by The Woodland Trust, they found out about the Policy Assistant role as part of the New to Nature programme.
Bonita felt drawn to the opportunity to contribute to large-scale change through policy work. Working at the Trust, Bonita was able to develop their confidence, gain practical experience and learn from mistakes in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Beyond the placement, Bonita hopes to continue building on this experience, exploring similar roles in organisations that share their values. New to Nature has helped Bonita realise that the possibilities are endless for a purpose-driven career in the sector.
“Having this placement is like taking slow, almost incremented steps into the sector. You can shadow people and practice what you’ve just learned; that sort of thing has been really great.”
New to Nature is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the King’s Coronation, delivered through a partnership of Groundwork, The King’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, Mission Diverse and the Youth Environmental Service.
