Environment Volunteer Roles

This is a fantastic role to get involved locally and be at the forefront of solutions to help save nature in your community. It is an opportunity to try new things and use your skills to make a valuable contribution to the work of your RSPB Local Group. We are a friendly and supportive team, so you will get the chance to build new relationships and meet new faces.

You will be leading the group in developing a range of activities designed to encourage wide participation from the group membership and to attract new group members, as well as heading the committee comprising individuals which assist with the running of the group and the activities which we run. You will have the support of Area/Country offices, and HQ.

We need someone to lead a group of enthusiastic people who are passionate about supporting the RSPB and exploring local wildlife. The group runs a full programme of activities, from outdoor walks and indoor talks to fundraising events. As the group leader, you will primarily lead the group and oversee things. You will be part of a friendly and helpful committee that share the same vision of bringing people closer to nature. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to use your leadership skills to make a valuable contribution to the work of the RSPB.

Our groups are entirely volunteer run and led. They are in the front line of engagement with local people, with an extensive programme of walks, talks, day trips and indoor meetings for the group and members of the public. We're looking for people who are passionate about connecting people with nature and helping in the smooth running of the group. By becoming part of the group, you'll have the chance to use your existing skills (and learn new ones) to build the group and make it an ever more important aspect of local RSPB connections with people. The roles available will depend on the group and can include:

• Publicity and / or social media
• Website editor
• Helping with organising and running events

Being a community group, you'll also have the opportunity to make new friends, have fun, and know you are enthusing people about the joys of nature. All you need is a willingness and ability to help with one or more of the varied activities of our RSPB groups, and able to give a minimum of a few hours each month. We have groups across the UK (see our map to find your nearest group). Feel free to contact your local group direct or go along to an event or two to find out more. If you can't find a group near you and would like to help set one up, please click on "Ask a question".

Notes: This opportunity is not based on a reserve and may not include practical conservation work. It is also not suitable for work experience. However it can usually be customised to your skills, experience and requirements depending on your situation.

We are committed to better reflecting society within our workforce and are keen to encourage more applications from people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities and younger people.

We're looking for someone to help with planning, developing and sharing articles, news and stories from the group's activities and the RSPB, as well as drafting media releases for us.

At WWT we shape unforgettable experiences for our visitors. We believe the best way for people to understand and connect to wetlands is to experience them, so we bring awe-inspiring nature up close and let it do the talking.

Volunteers are integral to the running of our Washington Wetland Centre. By working as part of the Maintenance team, you will help us ensure the Centre is looking at its very best and looking spick and span by keeping the facilities in excellent condition, so we can continue to provide our visitors with a great day out and showcase our work to save wetlands for wildlife and people. 

You will mainly be volunteering to assist with painting and decorating around the Centre and the occasional work in up keeping other buildings / hides as required. Tasks may include the following: 

• Preparation and painting / varnishing of wooden door frames, doors, tables and windows.
• Preparation and painting of buildings (internal and external), structures and other areas
• Occasional sanding down and repainting of benches
• Painting and treating of fences
• Sanding and painting metal work 

Summary

The Sussex Area of the Ramblers has two Countryside Officers, one for East Sussex and one for West Sussex. The primary function is to act on behalf of members where a reported planning development could have a detrimental effect on the Sussex countryside.

Description

The Ramblers works to help everyone enjoy the pleasures and benefits of walking, and to enhance and protect the places where people walk. We are committed to encouraging and supporting walking, protecting and expanding public rights of way and access land, and protecting the beauty of the countryside and other areas. We recognise the threat posed to our countryside by climate change, which could severely alter many of our cherished landscapes. Ramblers support measures to mitigate this by switching to renewable sources of energy which are sensitively sited and don’t damage precious landscapes. In addition we believe the government must focus particularly on improving energy efficiency, pursuing a range of measures to reduce the amount of energy wasted in generation, transmission and use. We are concerned about the potential impacts of onshore shale gas exploration and exploitation, both on access to the places we walk and on the beauty of the wider countryside. We will oppose such operations where we believe these impacts to be unacceptable, particularly in areas designated for their natural beauty such as National Parks (e.g. The South Downs) and National Landscapes (e.g . Chichester Harbour).

The role involves reviewing planning applications published by the Local Authority and lodging objections on behalf of Sussex Ramblers in the event that such developments are considered to have a detrimental effect on the Sussex countryside and the places where people walk. Such concerns may be expressed in writing through a response to the planning process, but could also involve site visits and on occasions attendance at public hearings.

The incumbent will work closely with other Ramblers officers such as the West Sussex Area Footpath Officer and where necessary will seek advice and guidance from Ramblers' central office. Other main contacts include the Local Authorities, Parish/Town Councils and Local Access Forum. The position reports to the Area Council.

What Impact will you have?

The Ramblers help everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk. By volunteering as a Countryside Officer you will be paying a vital role in making sure we can achieve this by holding Local Authorities to account for planning decisions, and helping to ensure that our countryside and the places people walk, essential to health and wellbeing, are safeguarded.

Skills and Experience Required

You should have a passion for walking and for preservation and protection of the natural beauty of the countryside and the special qualities of urban space, and a good knowledge of the county. Experience and knowledge of the Local Authorities planning process would be a distinct advantage. The position is suitable for a mature professional individual who is highly reliable, organised, capable of taking initiative and with an ability to articulate strategic issues clearly in written form. A desire and ability to work in a team environment is essential. You will also need to be comfortable using a computer and the internet, and managing information.

We are looking for Activity Leaders and Activity Assistants to help deliver activity session for various groups of young people and children visiting Cameron's Cottage.

Cameron's Cottage is a outdoor nature education centre for children and young people, based at RSPB Franchises Lodge on the edge of the New Forest. The Cottage has capacity to sleep up to 19, and welcomes both day visiting groups and those coming for a residential stay. RSPB staff lead the groups in a range of different activities, including nature walks, team building games, wildlife surveys known as 'bioblitz', conservation tasks, mindfulness walks and so much more! We are looking for volunteers who would be able to assist RSPB with delivering these activities, and there is the possibility for you to build up confidence and ability to lead these activities, if you are interested.

Please visit our volunteering page to find out more info and fill out our online form to help us connect young people back to nature!