Social & Environmental
Social Work
It's difficult to find work experience in this sector until you are 18 years old. Volunteering or working with people of varying ages can give you some idea of the skills you will need though.
Graduates interested in this area can apply for a 2 year programme aimed at developing your skills as a social work practitioner and leader: https://thefrontline.org.uk/
The Open University offers a free online course called Introduction to Social Work which might be of interest. You can sign up for free at www.open.edu/openlearn.
www.skillsforcare.org.uk - lots of useful information about careers in all areas of care
www.bacp.co.uk - British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy has a good careers section on its website
www.basw.co.uk - the British Association of Social Workers has information on the profession in its resources section
www.esrc.ac.uk - the Economic and Social Research Council website has information about careers in social sciences
www.nationalcounsellingsociety.org - the blog is full of useful information about counselling
Environmental Work
www.ciwem.org – the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmenal Management
www.ieem.net – the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
www.environmentjob.co.uk - includes volunteering opportunities across the UK
www.nerc.ac.uk – Natural Environment Research Council
www.cieh.org - Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
www.bohs.org – British Occupational Hygiene Society
Why not take part in a national competition such as the Big Bang or Teen Tech Awards which often have categories for environmental project work. You could also do an independent CREST Award project - the Gold level, aimed at 6th form students, involves 70+ hours' of work on a STEM topic of your choice and encourages you to start networking with people working in the field that interests you.