Environmental volunteer roles

Volunteer Officers are a key part of our team, working with young people and the local community at Skelton Grange Environment Centre. You will be trained and supported by experienced project staff and work as part of a team with paid staff, trainees and Volunteer Officers.

Typical activities for a Volunteer Officer include:
- Running environmental education, play and engagement activities for groups of children and young people on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre site.
- Leading or assisting groups of volunteers on practical conservation tasks, including preparing and organising activities, supporting and training volunteers (including some with additional support needs), looking after tools, refreshments and group welfare.
- Assisting with public events and related activities.
- Working to develop and maintain the wildlife area as an exciting and inspiring location for visitors to get a hands on experience with nature. This will include both development work and routine maintenance.
- Helping with the general running of the centre and the project.

Benefits to you:
We will aim to train Volunteer Officers in:
- Running a range of outdoor education and play activities and events with schools and community groups on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre site.
- All the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to run the sessions, from bushcraft skills to plant identification to working with children.
- Leading a range of practical tasks and events with volunteers on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre site.
- Practical development and maintenance of the wildlife area at Skelton Grange - including habitat management, practical conservation and surveying skills.
-Planning, risk assessing and running safe and engaging activities outside.

The role will give you real responsibility in a supportive environment and aims to support you into being able to run activities and lead groups independently.
As well as valuable practical experience with an organisation recognised for its quality by employers in the environmental field, we will provide you with a range of useful training courses, job opportunity information, interview guidance and references. It's also a chance to do something very satisfying and worthwhile and have lots of fun with some great people!

We will provide expenses to cover volunteer travel costs.

What you need:
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are keen to work with young people and to connect people with green spaces.
People volunteer with us for all sorts of reasons: you might be wanting to launch a career in the environment sector, or you may have lots of skills that you are keen to share, or you might be looking for something worthwhile to do with your time.

What we do

Our initiative leverages technology to connect global experts, researchers and volunteers with frontline African communities to drive meaningful change. We support Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) by solving their operational, organizational development, and technical challenges, ensuring their growth and sustainability. In the process, we actively engage and mentor young Africans, equipping them with skills and experience as they work alongside us to address these challenges. Through our “ViP” program "Volunteer in Pairs”, we pair local youth with international volunteers, students, researchers and other like-minded individuals to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and professional growth while strengthening NGOs, CBOs and local capacity.

Volunteer Opportunities at Beneficence Hub Tanzania (BhT)

Are you passionate about making a difference in climate action and community development? Beneficence Hub Tanzania (BhT) is looking for volunteers, young researchers and international students to support African local Organizations (NGOs & CBOs) in tackling climate change and protecting the environment.

We are seeking volunteers (Researchers and International students) with expertise or in need to gain experience on in the following areas:

✔️ Community Forest Management

✔️ Forest certification

✔️ Biodiversity monitoring and conservation

✔️ Forest Resources Assessment

✔️ Strategic Plan Development

✔️ Risk Management

✔️ Project Finance

✔️ Human Resources & IT

✔️ Organizational Development

✔️ Climate change including Climate Financing

✔️ Environmental Conservation

✔️ Forest value chains

✔️ Innovative sustainable business & financing models

How You Can Contribute

✅ Support African Organizations in strengthening their initiatives

✅ Provide expert guidance and mentorship

✅ Work remotely or in person at our offices in Dar es Salaam, Moshi (Kilimanjaro), or Zanzibar with regular visits to our partners project implementation areas.

✅ Collaborate with local and international volunteers to mentor young professionals

✅ Conducting practical research on specific

✅ Involved in field work for specific data collection and analysis of the same

This is a unique opportunity to use your skills for a meaningful cause while gaining hands-on experience in international development and environmental sustainability.

Join Us!

Be part of a global movement driving real change! If you’re interested in volunteering, visit our website.

Nature Buddies inspire and support local people at risk of isolation, to reconnect with the outdoor and local green spaces. This volunteer opportunity looks to develop members of the community with the confidence and mobility to spend more time outdoors to improve their mental and physical health. The activities and green spaces visited, will be chosen between the Nature Buddy, Leader and the supported individual; you decide together what is most helpful, convenient and enjoyable. A Nature Buddy is someone who believes in the benefits of health and wellbeing, outdoor learning and environmental stewardship.

Time commitment:

1 hour weekly for periods of 6-8 weeks at a time. This particular project runs until April/May, however there are many other projects in the Let's Go Outside and Learn catalogue. We love to work long-term with volunteers, so we provide solid support, online and in-person training, as well as regular support and guidance from us, to make this a no-brainer for you.

What skills do you need?

No special qualifications or background in horticulture needed.

Volunteers should be:

Understanding, Patient, Empathetic and have a love for Nature.

Benefits:

A fantastic personal learning and development opportunity. Rewarding activity directly improving the lives of people in the community. Volunteers will have expenses covered for some travel and refreshments if taken with clients. This is an ideal role to gain experience for your CV in the social care and environmental sectors, broadening your skills, and creating a pathway for potential new career avenues. Regular access to enjoying time outdoors in the company, and creating new friends within the team. You will be given induction training, online and in-person, this will be carried out through 3 sessions and a handbook for you to keep track of what you are learning. You will recieve on-going support and guidance as well as peer support at volunteer meetings. You'll work closely with the Let's Go team, who are there to help you and the participants. 

Friends of the Dales is a membership-based registered charity founded in 1981 which works to protect and enhance the Yorkshire Dales and encourage everyone from all backgrounds to value and enjoy this special area.

We are a campaigning organisation and work on a wide range of environmental and social issues that affect the biodiversity and landscape of the Dales, and the well-being of local communities.

The organisation employs 3 part-time staff, with offices in Gargrave.

The Treasurer is a volunteer Trustee / Director of the organisation elected for 3 years, with an option to stand for re-election for a further three years. The role will become vacant in 2025 when the term of office of the current incumbent expires.

Responsibilities The Treasurer is a key member of the organisation, working closely with the Chair and the Executive Director. The role is responsible for ensuring that the Board carries out its financial and governance obligations and that the Charity complies with the requirements of Company and Charity law. Specific responsibilities include:

1 Financial management • Advising the Board on financial issues and on all aspects of expenditure and income generation • Production of periodic financial reports (income and expenditure statements) for Trustees (financial records are maintained by office staff) • Cash flow management and reporting • Oversight of the production of the Annual Report and Accounts (statutory accounts are prepared by external auditors) • Management and optimisation of deposit accounts in line with the organisation’s ethical standards • Reviewing and making recommendations on financial controls

2 Corporate Governance • Advising the Board on good corporate governance and compliance with Charity Commission requirements (supported by the Executive Director) • Chair of the Finance & Governance (F&G) Committee • Maintenance of the organisation’s Risk Register • Working with the Chair, advising on Board composition and Trustee development • Working closely with the Chair and Executive Director on the development of corporate strategy 1Friends of the Dales is the trading name of The Yorkshire Dales Society, a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered No 1822908, and a Registered Charity No 515384. The Charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator

3 Internal management • Line management of the Executive Director • Oversight of HR issues (supported by pro bono professional advice from a third party). Note: payroll and tax are administered by a third party • Advising the Board on insurance issues

Scope of the role:

The turnover of the organisation in 2023/24 was £74k although this can vary significantly from year to year depending on legacy income. Membership accounts for c 50% of income. There is currently a planned annual operating deficit of c£55k funded from reserves which, at the end of 2023/24 were £332k, of which £310k were unrestricted.

A review of the organisation’s Business Model is currently being undertaken; the Treasurer will be expected to contribute to this. Both the Board and the F&G Committee meet quarterly.

Meetings normally take place in Gargrave on weekdays during normal working hours although these timings may be reviewed in the future. Further ad hoc meetings with staff and Trustees take place on an as needed basis. Regular use is made of video calls.

Skills and Experience:

The Board is keen to broaden the diversity of Trustees; whilst welcoming expressions of interest from people of any background, applications from minority ethnic groups and from younger people are especially encouraged. The role could provide a development opportunity for an individual looking to acquire / develop experience of the charitable sector.

The role requires some level of numeracy and basic spreadsheeting skills. A formal accountancy background is not required. A knowledge and awareness of company reporting and Charity Commission requirements would be helpful.

The role would suit someone with some experience of general management in a not for profit environment or a commercial organisation.

An interest in landscape and biodiversity management in protected areas would be advantageous.

Note: Consideration may be given to splitting the role between the financial and the corporate governance / internal management components should this better suit the skills of individual applicants.

About Bank.Green

Since the Paris Agreement, global banks have poured a staggering $6.9t into the fossil fuel industry. At Bank.Green, our mission is to lower this vast carbon footprint via technology and consumer action. We empower bank customers with the tools and insights they need to influence their banks towards sustainable lending, or switch to greener alternatives. To date, our bank-checking tool has been used over 500,000 times by bank customers worldwide, while we have shifted a at least £40m towards bank who are financing a greener future. Through transparency, engagement, and innovation, we aim to redefine the role of banks in the fight against climate change.

Role Overview

As our fundraising specialist, you'll play a pivotal role in garnering the resources that drive our mission forward. Success in this position means effectively tapping into funding opportunities and strengthening our engagement with donors and supporters. Through this role, you will gain significant experience about the entire fundraising process, both for nonprofits and private entities, as well as learn about the world of sustainable finance and how technology can positively contribute to it.

Commitment

• This role is currently volunteer-based.
• We are seeking a commitment of 5-10 hours per week.
• We are looking for somebody to come on long-term, but are open to shorter-term applicants.

Key Responsibilities

• Vet new funding opportunities for suitability using our CRM and provided training resources.
• Apply for existing funding opportunities from foundations and/or investors.
• Assist in grant-writing and the grant application process.
• Collaborate on developing and executing crowdfunding initiatives.
• Occasionally draft compelling fundraising emails for our newsletter subscribers, articulating our mission and needs.

Desired Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Proactive initiative in a remote work environment.
• Passion for environmental issues.
• Experience or willingness to learn about grant applications, crowdfunding strategies, and donor communications.

Volunteer Benefits

As a volunteer-driven organisation, we are very focused on making all of our opportunities as valuable as possible for our volunteers. In this spirit, we will offer you:

• Opportunities to gain insights into sustainable banking practices and advancements in environmental advocacy through continuous learning.
• The chance to network with other sustainability professionals and advocates, enhancing your professional connections.
• Valuable experience in a critical climate-focused role, which will enhance your resume and skill set.
• Recognition for positive performance with supportive references and recommendations for your future career growth.
• A significant role in driving impactful changes in the banking sector to accelerate a sustainable future.

About Bank.Green

Since the Paris Agreement, global banks have poured a staggering $6.9t into the fossil fuel industry. At Bank Green, our mission is to lower this vast carbon footprint via technology and consumer action. We empower bank customers with the tools and insights they need to influence their banks towards sustainable lending, or switch to greener alternatives. To date, our bank-checking tool has been used over 500,000 times by bank customers worldwide, while we have shifted at least £40m towards banks who are financing a greener future. Through transparency, engagement, and innovation, we aim to redefine the role of banks in the fight against climate change.

Role Overview

As our Philanthropy Lead, you will play a pivotal role in powering our mission by identifying, cultivating, and stewarding high-value donors who share our vision for systemic change. Beyond major gifts, you'll help shape a thoughtful and inclusive supporter journey to create meaningful engagement opportunities for a broader community of donors, including legacy givers, mid-level supporters, and monthly contributors. You'll ensure our communications open clear pathways to connection and action. This is a unique opportunity to deepen your expertise in major donor fundraising while creating a values-driven donor engagement strategy at a nonprofit working to transform the financial system for climate justice.

What you will do

• Collaborate with the Executive Director to plan and participate in donor meetings, craft tailored proposals, and implement effective stewardship plans.

• Identify, research, and cultivate relationships with prospective major donors, particularly those aligned with climate action, sustainable finance, and systems change.

• Support the development of donor materials, including impact updates, campaign briefings, and stewardship reports.

• Lead donor engagement efforts, coordinating personalized communication strategies and touchpoints to inspire long-term support and deepen relationships.

• Track and analyze fundraising performance, using insights to refine engagement strategies and improve outcomes across major giving efforts.

What you have

• Experience in major gift fundraising, legacy giving, and donor engagement strategy.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages tailored to high-value donors and stakeholders.

• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling philanthropic opportunities.

• Familiar with issues in environmental sustainability, climate justice, and driving systemic change.

• Self-directed and deeply collaborative. You’re at ease working remotely while staying connected to a distributed team

Our Volunteer Benefits

As a volunteer-driven organisation, we are very focused on making all of our opportunities as valuable as possible for our volunteers. In this spirit, we will offer you:

• Opportunities to gain insights into sustainable banking practices and advancements in environmental advocacy through continuous learning.

• The chance to network with other sustainability professionals and advocates, enhancing your professional connections.

• Valuable experience in a critical climate-focused role, which will enhance your resume and skill set.

• Recognition for positive performance with supportive references and recommendations for your future career growth.

• A significant role in driving impactful changes in the banking sector to accelerate a sustainable future.

As our current Chair of Trustees completes her 6 year tenure, we are looking to welcome a new chair to continue her stellar work in governance and strategy.

Walworth Garden is a charity dedicated to knowledge and nurture. Our aim is to improve lives by providing excellent learning and horticultural therapy through an award winning garden that’s open to all. Leading our board, the new Chair of Trustees will work to ensure our charitable aims are upheld and our ambitious strategic plan guides our activities. They will join us at an exciting point in our development as we prepare to begin works on the construction of an Environmental Learning Centre.

We particularly seek support from those living or working locally and who have trustee and/or professional charity leadership experience. You will need to be able to commit two hours for meetings every other month, from 7-9pm. Additional time will be needed to read the board papers which will be sent in advance, meet with the CEO, and occasional discussions outside of regular meetings. More information on these expectations can be found below.

Walworth Garden is committed to equality of opportunity, and values diversity. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic locals who have been historically excluded from the horticulture industries, as well as applications from LGBTQIA+ candidates.

OVERVIEW – ANOTHER WAY

Another Way is a charity founded by Amy Bray in 2019, when she was 16. Another Way is an educational environment charity. We educate and influence those around us, inspiring all to live with kindness towards our planet. We are youth-led with a multi-generational appeal.

We are scaling fast, particularly as our Power of 10 app grows, extending our community of young changemakers. The Another Way charity team now requires support for the Board of Trustees.

ROLE HEADLINES

The clerk will play an administrative and procedural role, supporting the smooth and compliant operation of the charity’s governance and trustee meetings, a key member of the team.

Below are the details of the role and we invite applications that demonstrate experience in the areas outlined including both charity clerk and ideally familiarity with company secretarial duties. We envisage this voluntary role to require approximately two days per month/ 2-3 hours per week.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative and Organisational Support:

• Managing the trustee board's administrative tasks.
• Ensuring efficient meeting organisation and record-keeping.

Governance and Compliance:

• In conjunction with our legal partner
• providing guidance on governance, constitutional, and procedural matters.
• Ensuring the board operates in compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Advising on the potential consequences of non-compliance.

Meeting Management:

• Convening and supporting meetings of the trustees.
• Taking minutes of trustee meetings.
• Dealing with trustee correspondence between meetings.

Other Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Chair of Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer.
• Ensuring the trustee body fulfils its responsibilities.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Strong personal commitment to the values and objectives of Another Way
• Demonstrable success managing charity governance and compliance
• Knowledge, or willingness to learn, of environmental issues and solutions
• Excellent communication abilities and organisational skills
• Knowledge of online systems such as Microsoft applications including OneDrive and Sharepoint. Also, other collaboration tools such as Slack or similar.

Please apply with a CV and a covering email summarising your experience and interest in the role.

Summary

The Sussex Area of the Ramblers has two Countryside Officers, one for East Sussex and one for West Sussex. The primary activity in the role is to act on behalf of members where a reported planning development is likely to have an adverse impact on the walking environment in the Sussex countryside.

Description

The Ramblers, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2025, is the only charity dedicated to removing barriers so everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces, and to improving Britain’s most popular and least-known walking places. We’re committed to campaigning to keep our countryside open to all and to fighting for the things that matter most to walkers. We lead the way, and the walks, for a vibrant community united by the joys of walking, helping everyone get more out of their walks. 

The role of East Sussex Area Countryside Officer involves reviewing planning applications published by Local Authorities and lodging objections on behalf of Sussex Ramblers if an application is likely to have an adverse impact on the Sussex countryside and the places where people walk. Objections 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 or meetings with representatives of Local Authorities or with other stakeholders such as Parish Councils and environmental and wildlife organisations.

The role holder will work closely with other Ramblers volunteers such as the East Sussex Area Footpath Officer, the West Sussex Area Countryside Officer and Local Footpath Wardens in East Sussex and where necessary will seek advice and guidance from Ramblers' Central Office. Other main contacts include the Local Authorities, Parish/Town Councils, the South Downs National Park Authority and the East Sussex Local Access Forum. The role holder will be a member of the Area leadership team (Area Council). You will need to be a member of the Ramblers.

Position: Volunteer Urban Ranger
Responsible to: Urban Ranger
Location: Various outdoor spaces across BD3, BD4 and BD5
Hours: Anything from two hours here and there, to two days a week.
Expenses: Travel expenses will be reimbursed for bus tickets, train tickets or car mileage

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At Better Place Bradford, our mission is to identify and oversee improvements to local parks and outdoor spaces with the aim of providing a healthier and happier environment for babies, young children and families. We work across larger parks, pocket parks, community centres, streets and green spaces across BD3, BD4 and BD5.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, passionate, and highly motivated individual, who is looking to gain some practical landscape maintenance experience.

As a Volunteer Urban Ranger, you’ll play a vital role in maintaining the upkeep of our sites, regularly checking that each site is safe, inviting, and free from rubbish — noting any issues that arise.

Duties include: Litter clearance, sweeping sand back into the sand pits, weeding, planting, watering plants, affixing signs, checking in on the Little Free Library boxes, strimming, raking leaves, supporting at event days, promoting responsible use and enjoyment of our sites.

This role is for you if you;

• Enjoy being outdoors (in all weather)
• Are not afraid of physical work
• Want to make a difference in your local area
• Are comfortable getting to sites across BD3/BD4/BD5
• Enjoy interacting with members of the public
• Want to gain practical landscape maintenance experience
• Are looking for an intro into the environmental / conservation / ranger sectors

Volunteers must be in the UK already.

Metal Circle

Metal Circle is an online marketplace for buying and selling scrap metals like iron, copper, lead, brass, and aluminium in Nigeria. It tackles environmental issues by recycling metal waste, reducing pollution, and mitigating climate change. Socially, it creates jobs, alleviates poverty, promotes safe waste handling, and educates communities. The platform offers transparent pricing, secure transactions, and adheres to HSSE compliance. Recognized for its innovation, Metal Circle has been praised by industry experts for its global impact potential.

Creative Video Content Creator

We're seeking a creative Video Content Creator to develop emotional and personal video content for our social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) to tell Metal Circle's story and attract investors, particularly from the Nigerian diaspora. You'll help us create compelling content for crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe.

Responsibilities:

• Create high-quality, engaging video content showcasing Metal Circle's impact and story.
• Develop content strategy for social media platforms.
• Collaborate with team to produce and edit videos.
• Utilize storytelling techniques to attract investors and supporters.

Requirements:

• Experience in video content creation.
• Strong storytelling and creative skills.
• Familiarity with social media platforms.
• Ability to work remotely and meet deadlines.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to work on a sustainability-driven project.
• Collaborative and dynamic team environment.
• Portfolio-building experience.

If you're passionate about sustainability and creative storytelling, apply with your portfolio and a brief introduction outlining your interest in Metal Circle's mission.

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

3-5 months

We work with hundreds of adult volunteers every year at Skelton Grange Environment Centre, running practical and wellbeing based volunteering sessions and managing and improving our beautiful wildlife area in South East Leeds.

Volunteer Officers are a key part of our team, working both independently and with volunteer teams and the local community at Skelton Grange Environment Centre, helping to plan, prepare and run sessions. You will be trained and supported by experienced project staff and work as part of a team with paid staff, trainees and Volunteer Officers.

Typical activities for Volunteer Officers include:
- Leading or assisting groups of volunteers on practical conservation tasks, including preparing and organising activities, supporting and training volunteers (including some with additional support needs) looking after tools, refreshments and group welfare.
- Assisting with public events and related activities.
- Working to develop and maintain the wildlife area as an exciting and inspiring location for visitors to get a hands-on experience with nature. This will include both development work and routine maintenance.
- Keeping the activity days and resources up to date and developing new resources or materials as required.
- Helping with the general running of the centre and the project.

Benefits to you:
We will aim to train Volunteer Officers in:
- Leading a range of practical tasks and events with volunteers on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre site.
- Practical development and maintenance of the wildlife area at Skelton Grange - including habitat management, practical conservation and surveying skills.

The Volunteer role will give you real responsibility in a supportive environment, and aims to support you into being able to run activities and lead groups independently.
As well as valuable practical experience with an organisation recognised for its quality by employers in the environmental field, we will provide you with a range of useful training courses, job opportunity information, interview guidance and references.

It's also a chance to do something very satisfying and worthwhile, and have lots of fun with some great people!

We will provide expenses to cover volunteer travel costs.

What you need:
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are keen to work with other people and to connect people with green spaces.
People volunteer with us for all sorts of reasons: you might be wanting to launch a career in the environment sector, or you may have lots of skills that you are keen to share, or you might be looking for something worthwhile to do with your time.

How much time:
2-4 days per week.

To maximise your experience and make the most of your new skills, many people aim to complete 100 days of volunteering within 6 to 12 months.

Position Overview
Join a passionate team making a real impact on conservation in Madagascar — from anywhere in the world.
We are offering a unique remote internship opportunity to support SEED’s conservation professionals working on the ground in Madagascar. As part of this role, you’ll contribute directly to vital environmental research through data input, cleansing and preliminary analysis. This position is ideal for a motivated individual with a foundation in conservation data who is eager to deepen their skills and gain hands-on experience.
About the organisation
SEED Madagascar is a British Charity working in partnership with communities in the southeast of Madagascar. We integrate high quality community health, livelihoods, education infrastructure and conservation programmes to support sustainable change and add to international best practice through research and publication across all of our programmatic areas.
Location: Remote – based anywhere in the world
Time zone: East Africa Time
Timeframe: 6 months extendable – flexible 2 days a week
Contract: Voluntary, unsalaried
Reporting to: Conservation Research Coordinator / Senior Research Assistant
Duties and responsibilities
1. Receiving data from the team of researchers in Madagascar and taking responsibility for the
organising, cleaning and inputting of data
2. Feeding back to the team with recommendations for data quality improvements and learning
3. Supporting on the initial analysis across the range of data collected when required
4. Working with the wider SEED environment team in inputting data and analysis into technical reports
5. Opportunities for liaising with the SEED communications team on highlighting data findings through social media
6. Any other tasks the Conservation Research Coordinator deems necessary within the broad remit of this role
Qualifications
● Hold or be studying towards an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in or relating to conservation or have comparable field experience
● Have experience inputting and managing datasets
● Have experience applying software, preferably R or Python, for data manipulation and analysis.
● Proven high standard of written and verbal communication and editing skills
● Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to SEED’s ethos and approach and be a good ambassador for the organisation at all times
● Be punctual and be able to work to tight deadlines in an organised manner and to a high standard
● Ability to work well under pressure to targets and deadlines
● Proactive, creative and resourceful
● Experience of collaborative team working and be able to work both independently
● Excellent listening and verbal communication skills and a flexible and patient attitude
● Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint
● Proficiency in data analysis and statistical modelling
● Be able to financially support themselves for the duration of their internship as there is no stipend available for travel

Summary

The Sussex Area of the Ramblers has two Countryside Officers, one for East Sussex and one for West Sussex. The primary activity in the role is to act on behalf of members where a reported planning development is likely to have an adverse impact on the walking environment in the Sussex countryside.

Description

The Ramblers, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2025, is the only charity dedicated to removing barriers so everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces, and to improving Britain’s most popular and least-known walking places. We’re committed to campaigning to keep our countryside open to all and to fighting for the things that matter most to walkers. We lead the way, and the walks, for a vibrant community united by the joys of walking, helping everyone get more out of their walks. 

The role of West Sussex Area Countryside Officer involves reviewing planning applications published by Local Authorities and lodging objections on behalf of Sussex Ramblers if an application is likely to have an adverse impact on the Sussex countryside and the places where people walk. Objections 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 or meetings with representatives of Local Authorities or with other stakeholders such as Parish Councils and environmental and wildlife organisations.

The role holder will work closely with other Ramblers volunteers such as the West Sussex Area Footpath Officer, the East Sussex Area Countryside Officer and Local Footpath Wardens in West Sussex and where necessary will seek advice and guidance from Ramblers' Central Office. Other main contacts include the Local Authorities, Parish/Town Councils, the South Downs National Park Authority and the West Sussex Local Access Forum. The role holder will be a member of the Area leadership team (Area Council). You will need to be a member of the Ramblers.

What Impact will you have?

The Ramblers help everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk. By volunteering as an Area 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 is not essential but would be an advantage. The role 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.