Shared Transport Costs

• To Bristol projects, overnight field trips, roundhouse build site etc

• Pay as you go e.g. you only pay for trips you are present for.

• Each trip is uniquely calculated

• Payments broken down into a sliding scale for payment: Lower / Actual Cost / Higher

• With the option to opt out of shared transport if you would prefer to make your own arrangements.

Bristol based and localish trips: £3 to £5

Further afield: between £14 to £23

Shared Food Costs

For overnight field trips:

• Evening meal: £3

• Breakfast: £1.50

Additional Kit costs:

• Suitable clothing and footwear for participating in outdoor activities in all weathers.

• Steel-toe capped boots for participating in activities involving tools and weight.

• Field Trips: Lunchbox, flask/water container.

• Overnight stay: Sleeping bag / pillow etc

• Classroom: Notebook.

Other optional costs:

All other kit for participating in course activities is provided for, but you may also wish to purchase your own.

• Organic Horticulture: pen knife, secateurs, work gloves, loppers, pruning saw.

• Classroom: Pencil case & stationery. 

• Permaculture Design: compass (both kinds), long tape measure

• Comfort Kit: Hot water bottle, slippers (no shoes in the classroom teaching space)

• We ask for a £20 refundable deposit for using the course library

The design of the course (the study hours) may allow students to claim Universal Credit whilst studying, and apply for a Council Tax reduction.

We have a letter ‘Statement of Education’ for students to prove they are studying with us. 

As we are an unaccredited (with any statutory body) teaching organisation - applying for benefits as a student is not always a straightforward process; and often relies on the discretion of the case worker.

• 2-day Outdoor First Aid - Kizzie Fitzwilliams

• Mental Health First Aid - Kizzie Fitzwilliams, Danny Balla

• Facilitators communicate and share information with students verbally, via email (google group), and through the Telegram app.

• We also set up a Telegram channel for students to chat to each other.

• We use Google docs to help organise things like shared transport and design projects, as well as storing photos and handouts/resources.

• We take payments for shared transport and food costs field using the Collectiv app. 

• We store information and files for the year on a Trelloboard.

Please let us know on your application whether lack of access to technology will be a limiting factor for you, so we can discuss alternatives. 

In order to aid the smooth running of the course we arrange the larger course group into smaller Clan groups. Each clan takes on a responsibility, such as keeping the space neat and tidy, purchasing beverage supplies, planning a meal and cooking on a field trip, organising shared transport etc. These roles are passed on to a new clan each term. 

Clan groups self organise, with the support of the facilitation team if needed. This requires communication, organisation, and doing some jobs outside of course hours when necessary.

We have a library of over 350 books available to borrow whilst studying with us, on all aspects of Practical Sustainability. We edit and expand on the library each year, ensuring it is built on student recommendations and kept current and representative.