I spent a few weeks at the end of the academic year volunteering with the South West Coast Path Association. I am a 21-year-old Italian student and I spent this year in Plymouth. In fact, thanks to the Erasmus+ programme, I had the opportunity to study for nine months at the University of Plymouth. I came to England with the idea of exploring and getting to know Plymouth and the surrounding area, but due to classes and intense study during the academic year, I didn’t have much chance to do so! Therefore, as soon as I finished with my last exams in May, I immediately contacted the South West Coast Path Association asking if I could actively participate in their walks.
I had already met the Association by participating in a walk during the academic year organised for university students. I really enjoy hiking and walking in nature, whether it is in the mountains, the sea or in the countryside. I thought that doing this kind of volunteering could be a good way to combine my passion for exploring a new place by walking in nature guided by local people and meeting new people, whilst also allowing me to practice my English.
My role was to accompany, together with the leader of the walk, groups of people along parts of the Path in the Plymouth area. The people taking part in the walks were from a variety of backgrounds, such as the group of university students with whom we did slightly more strenuous walks, people who had cancer with whom we walked on slightly shorter routes, and a group of older people who take this as an opportunity to get out of the house and meet people. It was therefore a unique opportunity for me to see the natural beauty and places on the coast between Devon and Cornwall. Places that are visited by thousands of tourists every year and which I, without the Association, would never have been able to admire.
Both Gemma, the leader of many of the walks with whom I interacted with most, and all those who volunteer for the Association, were always very welcoming and helpful to me from the moment we met. In fact, walk after walk, some of them formed very good and deep relationships with me, despite the age difference. I would recommend this experience to international students and others to get to know local people and thanks to them, by helping with the practical organisation of the walks, to discover the coastal area around Plymouth.
Guest blog written by Mattia.
“It was fantastic to have Mattia (pictured: in yellow front row) join our volunteer team. His enthusiasm for the walking the South West Coast was evident from day one, and he’s a real natural at sharing his passion for the outdoors with others. Our group members all enjoyed getting to know him and he quickly became a valued member of our team. We wish him the best of luck in his final year of studying back in Italy” says Gemma, Coast Path Connectors Project Officer for Plymouth.
The South West Coast Path 