Community outreach volunteer

Could you inform and enthuse people of all ages and backgrounds about RSPB sites in the Dearne Valley and what we are doing to help people and wildlife? RSPB Old Moor is a wildlife reserve between Rotherham and Barnsley, within easy reach of local communities. A major outcome of recently secured National Lottery Heritage funding is to make RSPB Old Moor and our other sites in the Dearne Valley even better for our wildlife and visitors over the next three years and ongoing into the future. We're looking for people to: • connect and maintain links with people in the local community • deliver outreach events and talks about what is happening at our Dearne Valley reserves • Spread the word of our projects and upcoming events • get people of all ages excited about the wildlife around them and how they can take action to protect it • raise the profile of the RSPB within local communities. You would be part of a team of volunteers in this role. Time commitment in this role would be flexible to be available when and where community groups are meeting, as opportunities arise, sometimes in evenings or at weekends. Obviously Covid-19 is affecting the delivery of our National Lottery Heritage project, but we are keen to recruit volunteers to that when we can commence community outreach we are ready to go. There may also be opportunities for engagement via video or social media whilst events are still prohibited.

Friendly and enthusiastic with great communication skills. A good public speaker. Well organised, proactive and able to connect and maintain links with people in the local community Confident and passionate to get people of all ages excited about the wildlife around them. Able to travel throughout local area. A willingness to use your own vehicle - mileage will be reimbursed. Willingness to undertake the training to enable you to complete the community outreach volunteer role for RSPB Old Moor. This will give you the knowledge to be able to share our sites and their wildlife/ visitor activities with people. Some of this training is online, but we will give you the support you need.

Minimum:

1 day a week, average

Duration:

Ongoing

Period:

All year round

Varied and active role in which you will meet and interact with lots of people and sharing your passion for wildlife and the work of the RSPB. Deliver events and talks in a way which plays to your strengths; we'd welcome your ideas and creativity for developing resources and delivering content. Utilise your enthusiasm for nature to make a positive difference in local communities and increase what the RSPB can achieve. Gain a greater understanding of the RSPB, it's vision and ways of working, and an induction of RSPB Old Moor and our network of sites in the Dearne Valley. The training and regular line manager support to help you excel in your community outreach volunteer role, including marketing training, manual handling, safeguarding, data protection and RSPB membership training and community engagement training. Be a valued part of a friendly, supportive team, receive quarterly newsletters about the RSPB in the Dearne Valley and be invited to volunteer events. RSPB uniform and name badge. We can provide reference of your volunteering with us, if appropriate

Contact

Elizabeth Harding, Old Moor
Tel: 01226 273830
Email: Elizabeth.Harding@RSPB.ORG.UK

Notes

Background information, training and uniform will be provided for you. Travel expenses to and from your volunteering can be reimbursed (up to 25 mile radius). The RSPB is the country's largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. By volunteering your time and talents you can help us increase our impact and help us protect nature. Like nature, our survival depends on diversity. Nature has no borders and neither do we. We believe that nature is everybody's right and being an equal, diverse organisation is the right thing to do to find solutions to our common challenges. We recognise the value of difference and want all volunteers to feel welcome, included and able to be themselves. We want to better reflect the communities in which we work so particularly welcome more volunteer applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and people under 25. We have a good representation from people with disabilities amongst our volunteers and are open to discussion of any adjustments you may need or want to volunteer.