About volunteering

• All about volunteering
• Volunteer to get fit

All about volunteering

Volunteers at RSPB Rye Meads nature reserve in Hertfordshire

Volunteers are an essential part of the RSPB. They are at the heart of what we do and achieve - and without their help, our work would be greatly diminished.

The RSPB was founded by volunteers in 1889 and today they are still at the heart of our work.

Over 14,000 volunteers make a huge contribution to the RSPB. They are an army of dedicated and selfless supporters.  

Voluntary work

An enormous number of volunteers generously give their time. They take part in all aspects of our work, including:

• offering all kinds of business skills in our offices 
• assisting in our tearooms, visitor centres and shops
• meeting people and showing people birds at Aren't birds brilliant! sites
• recruiting new members at events
• fundraising by local groups
• carrying out practical management on our reserves
• guarding nest sites
• surveying seabirds, farmland birds and wildlife.              

Who can volunteer?

The RSPB has volunteers from under 16 to 75+ years old. They come from all walks of life and the work they do can be tailored to their skills, interests and circumstances. 

As a volunteer, you will be welcomed and able to learn more about the RSPB

As a volunteer, you will be welcomed and able to learn more about how the RSPB is helping birds and wildlife in the UK and around the world.   

You don’t have to be a bird expert to volunteer for the RSPB. There are many ways that you can get involved with us and bird knowledge is just one of the many skills that we require.  

You can get involved in work in your local community, on our nature reserves, and at our regional and country offices; even our 22 council members are volunteers!  If you can think of a skill you have, there will almost certainly be a way it can help with our work.

A little time makes a world of difference

You can give as much or as little time as you like, whether it is one hour, one day, one week, a whole month or more. There are many volunteering roles within the RSPB - the difficulty is which one to choose! 

You can volunteer as:

• an individual, to suit your own free time, as little as one hour a year to weeks or even months at a time
• part of a corporate team building day
• a break from city life; a chance to work outdoors for a week or more
• a break from college or university; a chance to work in offices
• a satisfying way to keep you active mentally and physically in retirement
• a weekend activity
• a stepping stone towards a conservation career
• work experience towards a career in any field; CV enhancement
• a means of keeping fit and healthy
• a way of meeting new friends.

Last modified: 17 August 2006

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