Volunteering

Team challenges and employee volunteering

About team challenges

Volunteers taking a break at Minsmere reserve
Your team could remove scrub to restore heathland to attract breeding nightjars

By taking part in a team challenge, you can make a difference to wildlife conservation work whilst working as a team and having fun.

An RSPB Team Challenge is a chance for employees to have a novel and memorable day out and apply team working away from the office.

Your team will join regular RSPB staff at one of our nature reserves or local offices. You may become wardens for a day or get involved in some unusual activities to raise funds.

Whatever you do, you will make a real contribution to wildlife conservation while working as a team and having fun.

Partners in grime

Most team challenges on reserves will be muddy and energetic, but that’s all part of the fun. We will provide supervision and any tools or materials necessary to complete the task (unless obtaining them is part of the challenge). All you need to bring are old clothes and stout shoes or wellingtons. 

We need your help to:

  • clear and extend ponds for natterjack toads
  • remove scrub to restore heathland to attract breeding nightjars
  • open up woodland glades for butterflies and nightingales 
  • raise funds or organise events to help conservation work
  • build pond dipping platforms for school children.             

Whatever the challenge, it will make a difference for the reserve, its wildlife and its visitors. We can also apply the skills you use in your job, which can in turn help you to develop new skills in an alternative training environment.

Team challenges are 'hard work but fun, and you get a real sense of achievement from them'

The team challenge scheme

The RSPB relies on voluntary support to fund its work to protect wild birds and the environment. Team challenges are a great way for companies to help; some of the companies taking part have also made donations, of both cash and equipment.

Organisations that have already enjoyed a team challenge include Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs International, Ford, Royal and Sun Alliance, Marsh, SEEDA, The Army, BT, BP and Norwich Union.   

‘Marsh has a long tradition of supporting local communities and the environment. Initiatives like these are an important part of our community relations programme.’
Angela Tinker, Corporate Communications Director, Marsh

‘Team challenges on RSPB reserves have proved immensely popular with our community action teams. They’re hard work but fun, and you get a real sense of achievement from them.’
Richard Aggiss, Key Account Manager, Royal Mail Anglia 

What can you do?

Most team challenge activities on reserves take place in winter and early spring. This is so that birds and other wildlife are not disturbed as they breed from March onwards. 

With numerous reserves across the UK currently looking for help, we have plenty of tasks lined up, but we’ll always try to match the challenge to the needs of your group. 

Costs

We do not charge for arranging and supervising a team challenge, as your help makes a direct impact on the work of the reserve, but we welcome any donations towards our work to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife. 

Safety

We take the safety of our staff and volunteers seriously and have several policies that cover this. Please also check that your employer’s insurance covers your participation in team challenges. See the download for safety and insurance information. 

Bookings

Please look through the vacancies on the website. When you are ready to book, download and complete the Challenge selection form and e-mail it to the contact shown on the challenge. You will be asked to complete a Challenge confirmation form prior to the day. This is all outlined in the downloadable What happens next chart. 

Important information

Most activities on reserves require a reasonable level of fitness, but we can provide activities for less able people if we are given details of their requirements in advance. Make sure that you talk to the organiser of your activity and give them us much information about your team as you can. 

We need confirmation of numbers at least two weeks before the challenge. Please make sure that you let us know if numbers change.

What can I do?

Find volunteering opportunities near you

View opportunities

Last modified: 18 August 2006

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Downloads

Team challenge selection form (32Kb)
Find a challenge you are interested in, complete this form and and e-mail it to the contact shown on the challenge.
What happens next chart (12Kb)
Team challenges - eight easy steps to a successful team-building day.
Team challenges - safely does it (48Kb)
Staying safe while volunteering for the RSPB.
Insurance - your questions answered (16Kb)
Important information about insurance cover whilst volunteering for the RSPB.