SETTLE student Jack Depledge has won a bursary to fund a three-week work experience trip to South Africa.

Jack, a first year game keeper student at Newton Rigg College, has secured a £400 grant from the Newton Rigg Society (NRS), which links and supports current and past members of the college.

Jack, who is due to set off today, will work at Huntershill Safaris in the Eastern Cape. Home to more than 70 different animals, the game reserve covers 22,000 hectares and is run on ethical grounds with total commitment to conservation and sustainability.

Jack said: “Conservation is something very important to me and the opportunity to work on a game reserve that’s well respected for conservation is fantastic. I’m very grateful to the support from the Newton Rigg Society and look forward to present to students past and present when I get back.”

Commenting on his bursary interview, NRS vice-chairman Fiona Kidd said: “Jack was very calm and mature and as a 16-year-old, he handled the situation very well. We can see how all this would reflect in the environment of a shoot.

"Jack is keen on conservation and is clearly looking to his future which he hopes will include managing game estates. We were also impressed to hear about a column he is already writing for Sporting Gun, the well-established shooting magazine, he has great potential. We were delighted to award the bursary because we believe Jack will be an excellent ambassador for the college and for the Newton Rigg Society.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about bursaries for Newton Rigg students should contact society secretary Chris Mountain on 01228 576738.