Volunteer roles

About The Role

With a wealth of experience and proven track record in scientific research, we create and conserve wetlands and save species. We collect data on a wide range of species on all of our reserves, it is important these data-sets are compiled and safely stored centre.

Reserve records help to inform WWT’s reserves’ management plans by highlighting species trends and population changes - this knowledge can then be used in order to safeguard species utilising WWT reserves. We are looking for a volunteer with good knowledge of the classification of organisms and competent IT data entry skills to assist us in inputting and processing of the data from Arundel.

Working with the Reserve Manager and wider team, you will:

• Help to input biological records from the Reserve onto spreadsheets and databases.
• Assist with the compiling and formatting of historical records collected at WWT Arundel.
• Liaise with volunteers and staff to clarify data and ensure full records are complete.

Volunteers are an essential part of the WWT team. You'll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and anything else you need. 

About You

This role will suit you if you:

• Are experienced in data entry, data handling and the use of databases and spreadsheets
• Have a good understanding and knowledge of the classification of organisms
• Are self-motivated and have a good attention to detail
• Are happy to liaise with the team in an office environment

Please note, you must be over 18 to apply for this role.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you'll love volunteering at WWT

• Feel good knowing you are helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by like-minded wetland lovers
• Hear from the people who inject their energy, passion and expertise into wetlands and wildlife - talks, walks, webinars, tea and cake...
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Volunteer discount on shopping and memberships
• Access to webinars and practical information to help you manage daily life

We want your volunteering to be a positive and fun experience. You’ll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and other information you need.  This will include risk assessments based on your role and any particular support you need.

Volunteers receive access to our sites, and discounts in our shops and cafes. Some roles include a uniform or require the use of equipment or protective clothing.

If you are based at a particular site or office location, you’ll need to be able to get yourself there and back. Information on locations can be found on our website.

If you are interested in volunteering for WWT but don't wish to apply online, please email us. 

We will keep you up to date with what’s happening across WWT and the difference you will be helping to make happen.

Interested?

If you are interested in this role, please complete an application form so that we can talk it through further with you.

We look forward to hearing from you! 

We are looking for a Volunteer Fundraiser to support our fundraising activities with the initial focus on Corporate Partnerships. 

This role will play a key part in achieving our Vision where disabled children and young adults along with their families can together enjoy a rewarding life, which is fun, beneficial and above all fulfilling.   

This post is subject to an enhanced disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring Services. 

Can you commit to volunteering for a minimum of 2 years? 

Do you have 2 to 4 hours spare a month? 

Do you live in Reading?

Would you like to befriend a child or young person in care and make a long-term friendship with them? 

If yes, then volunteering for Reconstruct may suit you.

An Independent Visitor is an adult volunteer who befriends a young person in care and develops a long-term friendship with them. This often involves helping young people develop new interests, skills and hobbies or going on outings such as to the cinema, bowling or just a walk in the park.

You must be 21+, available for flexible working and able to commit to a minimum of 2 years. As a volunteer, you would spend about 2-4 hours every month with your allocated child.

Each volunteer is carefully matched with a child or young person in care in their local area who shares similar interests.

WHAT DO INDEPENDENT VISITORS DO?

• Visit a child monthly and becomes a trusted adult friend to them.
• Provide a consistent and reliable adult with a view to building a trusting and positive relationship with the child.
• Provide a child with the opportunity to try new activities and spend time with them away from their placement. This in turn can enhance progress and resilience of children, by building self-esteem, strengthening mental health, and opening new social relationships outside of the care system.

WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED?

• Interpersonal Skills – Ability to easily build rapport an identify with children and young people.
• Communication – Excellent communication skills, good report writing skills.
• Committed – Willing to commit to a child for at least one year and preferably two years.
• Role Model – A good role model for a child or young person who may have experienced difficult times during their childhood.
• DBS Check – We will carry out safer recruitment checks and you will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check.

Examples of activities can include:

• Sports
• Play football 
• Cinema
• Bowling
• Go to the library

You will be allocated a budget for each visit for your activity, and payment of your expenses, are paid so you are not out of pocket. These include, travel costs, and parking.

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to attend necessary training for the role. Interviews will be arranged in due course thereafter.

Can you commit to volunteering for a minimum of 2 years? 

Do you have 2 to 4 hours spare a month? 

Do you live in South Gloucestershire?

Would you like to befriend a child or young person in care and make a long-term friendship with them? 

If yes, then volunteering for Reconstruct may suit you.

An Independent Visitor is an adult volunteer who befriends a young person in care and develops a long-term friendship with them. This often involves helping young people develop new interests, skills and hobbies or going on outings such as to the cinema, bowling or just a walk in the park.

You must be 21+, available for flexible working and able to commit to a minimum of 2 years. As a volunteer, you would spend about 2-4 hours every month with your allocated child.

Each volunteer is carefully matched with a child or young person in care in their local area who shares similar interests.

WHAT DO INDEPENDENT VISITORS DO?

• Visit a child monthly and becomes a trusted adult friend to them.
• Provide a consistent and reliable adult with a view to building a trusting and positive relationship with the child.
• Provide a child with the opportunity to try new activities and spend time with them away from their placement. This in turn can enhance progress and resilience of children, by building self-esteem, strengthening mental health, and opening new social relationships outside of the care system.

WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED?

• Interpersonal Skills – Ability to easily build rapport an identify with children and young people.
• Communication – Excellent communication skills, good report writing skills.
• Committed – Willing to commit to a child for at least one year and preferably two years.
• Role Model – A good role model for a child or young person who may have experienced difficult times during their childhood.
• DBS Check – We will carry out safer recruitment checks and you will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check.

Examples of activities can include:

• Sports
• Play football 
• Cinema
• Bowling
• Go to the library

You will be allocated a budget for each visit for your activity, and payment of your expenses, are paid so you are not out of pocket. These include, travel costs, and parking.

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to attend necessary training for the role. Interviews will be arranged in due course thereafter.

Can you commit to volunteering for a minimum of 2 years? 

Do you have 2 to 4 hours spare a month? 

Do you live in Gloucestershire?

Would you like to befriend a child or young person in care and make a long-term friendship with them? 

If yes, then volunteering for Reconstruct may suit you.

An Independent Visitor is an adult volunteer who befriends a young person in care and develops a long-term friendship with them. This often involves helping young people develop new interests, skills and hobbies or going on outings such as to the cinema, bowling or just a walk in the park.

You must be 21+, available for flexible working and able to commit to a minimum of 2 years. As a volunteer, you would spend about 2-4 hours every month with your allocated child.

Each volunteer is carefully matched with a child or young person in care in their local area who shares similar interests.

WHAT DO INDEPENDENT VISITORS DO?

• Visit a child monthly and becomes a trusted adult friend to them.
• Provide a consistent and reliable adult with a view to building a trusting and positive relationship with the child.
• Provide a child with the opportunity to try new activities and spend time with them away from their placement. This in turn can enhance progress and resilience of children, by building self-esteem, strengthening mental health, and opening new social relationships outside of the care system.

WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED?

• Interpersonal Skills – Ability to easily build rapport an identify with children and young people.
• Communication – Excellent communication skills, good report writing skills.
• Committed – Willing to commit to a child for at least one year and preferably two years.
• Role Model – A good role model for a child or young person who may have experienced difficult times during their childhood.
• DBS Check – We will carry out safer recruitment checks and you will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check.

Examples of activities can include:

• Sports
• Play football 
• Cinema
• Bowling
• Go to the library

You will be allocated a budget for each visit for your activity, and payment of your expenses, are paid so you are not out of pocket. These include, travel costs, and parking.

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to attend necessary training for the role. Interviews will be arranged in due course thereafter.

Can you commit to volunteering for a minimum of 2 years? 

Do you have 2 to 4 hours spare a month? 

Do you live in Milton Keynes?

Would you like to befriend a child or young person in care and make a long-term friendship with them? 

If yes, then volunteering for Reconstruct may suit you.

An Independent Visitor is an adult volunteer who befriends a young person in care and develops a long-term friendship with them. This often involves helping young people develop new interests, skills and hobbies or going on outings such as to the cinema, bowling or just a walk in the park.

You must be 21+, available for flexible working and able to commit to a minimum of 2 years. As a volunteer, you would spend about 2-4 hours every month with your allocated child.

Each volunteer is carefully matched with a child or young person in care in their local area who shares similar interests.

WHAT DO INDEPENDENT VISITORS DO?

• Visit a child monthly and becomes a trusted adult friend to them.
• Provide a consistent and reliable adult with a view to building a trusting and positive relationship with the child.
• Provide a child with the opportunity to try new activities and spend time with them away from their placement. This in turn can enhance progress and resilience of children, by building self-esteem, strengthening mental health, and opening new social relationships outside of the care system.

WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED?

• Interpersonal Skills – Ability to easily build rapport an identify with children and young people.
• Communication – Excellent communication skills, good report writing skills.
• Committed – Willing to commit to a child for at least one year and preferably two years.
• Role Model – A good role model for a child or young person who may have experienced difficult times during their childhood.
• DBS Check – We will carry out safer recruitment checks and you will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check.

Examples of activities can include:

• Sports
• Play football 
• Cinema
• Bowling
• Go to the library

You will be allocated a budget for each visit for your activity, and payment of your expenses, are paid so you are not out of pocket. These include, travel costs, and parking.

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to attend necessary training for the role. Interviews will be arranged in due course thereafter.

We know that thousands of people in need of bereavement support are waiting to access ongoing bereavement support. We are now recruiting for additional volunteers, if you would like to know more about volunteering for this popular service, we would love to see you at our UYBO Open Day.

What will you be doing:

• Presenting and facilitating one off online group sessions for bereaved people with fellow volunteers
• Creating a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space to deliver practical bereavement information and guidance
•  Facilitating peer engagement in small discussion groups
• Delivering clear messaging for onward signposting

Skills and experience you’ll need:

• Effective listening and communication skills
• Good IT literacy or an ability to learn (training will be provided)
• Access to a computer
• Comfortable talking about grief and death
• Empathetic and warm
• Confident facilitating discussion in a group setting

Want to find out more? 

Join us for an Open Day on Wednesday 28th May 2025 (2:00pm to 3:30pm or 6:00pm to 7:30pm) to learn more, talk to current UYBO volunteers and find out about our training programme and the support we offer volunteers.

Please note that should you wish to become a UYBO Volunteer after attending the open day, we will be holding informal interviews from Monday 2nd June.

EQUAL AQUA is an award-winning NGO providing equal access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Uganda. Equal Aqua is managed by an international team of volunteers, based mainly in the UK and Uganda. Our mission is to tackle inequalities in access to WASH by providing safe and sustainable WASH facilities and services to those that need it most.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: We are recruiting a new Communications Manager in order to build awareness around WASH inequality, grow EAU's presence and income generation, and ultimately enable us to reach more communities and transform more lives.

• Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of an external and internal communications strategy to drive the strategy, vision and values of EAU;
• Oversee public communications channels, including social media and websites, working closely with the fundraising and programmes team to improve communication between stakeholders;
• Lead EAU's monthly newelstter to key stakeholders
• Oversee production of EAU’s Annual Report, raising awareness of WASH inequality and generating income for EAU.
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners and important contacts;

ABOUT: ‘Equal Aqua’ is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in the UK; it operates equally and in unison with ‘Equal Aqua Uganda’, a registered Community Based Organisation (CBO) in Uganda (‘EAU’ refers to both).

Our Vision: To become a leading organisation in Uganda in addressing inequalities in WASH, and interrelated issues of gender and sustainability

Our Mission: We will achieve this by working with partners and local communities to develop the required skills, knowledge and practical interventions 

Objectives:

• To improve access to safe and sustainable WASH for those facing the greatest inequalities in Uganda
• To strengthen the participation of local communities in WASH, in particular women and girls, and displaced peoples
• To take action to protect the natural environment, reduce pollution and tackle climate change

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

• 32,866 people with improved access to safe water
• 11,044 people with improved sanitation
• 11,755 people with improved WASH knowledge and skills
• 3,877 people with improved menstrual hygiene knowledge
• British High Commission award winner

VALUES: At Equal Aqua we champion bottom-up grassroots development. To make this possible, we have created a proactive and friendly environment, which strives to create practical and lasting solutions to WASH-related issues. Each member of Equal Aqua is passionate about WASH inequalities, and our values are a central basis for inspiration and the culture of the organisation.

Marmalade Connections is a time-limited, one-to-one project covering most of the South West. Based on the enabling/empowering social prescribing model, trained volunteers make weekly calls to project members for up to 15 weeks, focusing on their specific needs and interests.  The project supports those in our community who are the most socially isolated, and who experience chronic loneliness (feeling lonely all or most of the time). 

Marmalade Connections is not a 'befriending call project'.​ These conversations lead to volunteers signposting the project members to local social activities and community support, to improve their social connections long term. 

As a Marmalade Companion Volunteer, you will support one or occasionally two of our project members (the people we support) for a period of up to 16 weeks. The role involves phoning a matched member once a week for a friendly call lasting about 30 minutes plus researching potential social connection and activity opportunities. You will receive training on how to build up a trusted telephone relationship with your project member(s) to enable you to support and signpost them to relevant services and activities. The aim of this project is to help reduce social isolation and loneliness and to support your project member(s) to discover lasting connections in their community. 

At St John Ambulance, we are looking to develop our volunteering offer and become an even more integral part of our communities through delivering community first aid and education. 

We need people who have a passion for helping others, care about their communities and want to make a difference, supporting them to become safe and more resilient by sharing your first aid skills and knowledge. As a Community First Aider, you’ll deliver first aid to those in need through local events, as well as provide education to the public so that the ripple effect of First Aid grows.

Through supporting the growth of community partnerships, you will bring people along to our cause, growing our membership and fundraising base and spreading the message that First Aid Saves Lives. 

Through volunteering as a Community First Aider, you’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

We will make sure you will have access to a proper induction to volunteering with SJA and the training you need for the role you take on. We will also provide you with a supportive environment while you are volunteering with us. Information about our volunteer roles are included in the role descriptions. What you can expect from SJA, and what we expect from those who volunteer with us, is included in the volunteer charter.

Interviews for this role will happen on the 8th April in Rotherham between 1800 - 2100  and on the 15th April in Sheffield between 1800 - 2100

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:
Welcome Event will be (Induction) - 13th May, 1900 - 2100 in Rotherham
Training for this role will happen - First/Second weekend in May

Closing date for these opportunities is: 15/04/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Why we need you?

The Halifax Charity Gala is organised by a committee of local volunteers in their spare time. The work required to plan and execute the gala is quite large & growing, with volunteer Committee Members working all year round to support the 40 or so local good causes we represent.

This all requires your friendly face & attitude on Gala Day to provide a warm welcome to our paying customers, accredited volunteers, commercial concessions, arena acts & others.

What will you be doing?

Helping to organise Calderdale’s longest-running annual not-for-profit family event! On a more practical level you’ll be the first Gala representative customers see, so will check their tickets/accreditation or take admission payment and provide them with a programme.

As a Gate Steward, on Gala Day you could be:

• Welcoming everyone with a friendly, positive attitude

• Managing entry queues, ensuring those with tickets/accreditation use the fast-track lanes, and that an exit lane is maintained

• Assisting customers with accessibility needs to navigate the queues

• Scanning eTickets in (and out, if they are likely to want to return)

• Checking hand stamps (of procession participants)

• Checking wristbands (of accredited persons)

• Checking paper tickets

• Accepting card & cash payments for people wishing to purchase admission on-the-day

• ‘Clicking’ people in & out using manual tally counters

• Providing information to customers about the Gala, entertainment timetables & other activities taking place

• Handing out printed programme booklets to customers on entry

• Issuing hand stamps for non-eTicket customers who may want to return

• Assisting in maintaining a safe & enjoyable environment, reporting any issues to your volunteer Gate Supervisor

Not every volunteer Gate Steward will be doing every task – there is flexibility to alternate between tasks on each gate. We can make reasonable adjustments for volunteers who have additional needs, conditions or disabilities which affect the tasks they are able to do.

What skills do you need?

• Basic numeracy skills, to work out total cost of admission for a group, and to provide change

• Ability to use smart mobile device (ie tablet / phone) applications for scanning eTickets (training on the specific app will be provided on the day)

• Ability to use Process Data Quickly (PDQ) ‘card’ machines to accept payments by card (training on the specific terminals will be provided on the day)

• Good interpersonal and communication skills 

• Enthusiasm & a positive can-do attitude

• Willingness to work as part of a team with a flexible approach

• Proactivity & a good initiative

• Assertive when necessary

• Ability to deal with any incidents that may occur in a cool & calm manner

Not every volunteer Gate Steward will need to have every skill – there are several positions on each gate, and your volunteer Gate Supervisor will allocate you based on your existing skills & experience.

How much time do you need to commit?

We require Gate Stewards on Gala Day – the second Saturday of June each year.

Gate Stewards need to be available for one of two shifts:

• Early from 1000 to 1530

• Late from 1130 to 1700

Though any volunteers who want to start earlier / finish later would always be welcomed to do so!

This allows to us to have all Gate Stewards on their allocated gates between 1200-1500, which is our busiest time for customers entering & leaving.

What support will you be given?

Each gate team is led by a volunteer Gate Supervisor, who will be the first point of contact for any issues locally. They will have a radio to contact Radio Control.

Each gate also has an SIA licensed Door Supervisor present from our externally contracted crowd safety service provider, who will support with any prohibited items, invalid accreditation / tickets, refusal to pay, etc.

The volunteer Gate Supervisors are in turn supported by a volunteer Gate Manager, who will visit each gate several times during the day.

A briefing will be provided at your start time, by the volunteer Gate Manager and/or a volunteer Committee Member.

What are the benefits?

• Satisfaction of knowing you are making a valuable contribution to a successful, high-profile event supporting local good causes and providing the people of Halifax, Calderdale & West Yorkshire a great family day out

• Enjoyment of meeting new people from a variety of backgrounds & the opportunity to build your professional network

• Being a part of our friendly, supportive volunteer team

• Opportunity to discover more about our year-round roles which provide valuable experiences across many sectors

• Knowledge that you will have made a positive impact and improved the experience of the public & our member organisations

• The opportunity to develop various skills, for example:

o Card payment processing

o Cash handling

o Communication

o Crowd management

o Customer service

o Event co-ordination

o Problem solving

o Teamwork

• Light refreshments are provided on Gala Day, usually in the form of a buffet of sandwiches, snacks, soft & hot drinks, etc

• Access to a workers-only portable toilet in the Gala Control compound

How to sign up?

If you’re part of a group/organisation that can supply a whole gate team (4-6 stewards & 1 supervisor), please email us and a volunteer Committee Member will be in touch to discuss further.

If you’re an individual who is happy to join other volunteers, please see our website for more information. You can email us to express your interest, and we’ll send you the link to our sign-up form

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the start up of a new charity that seeks to create a wide reaching operational activity that develops employment and volunteering opportunities that truly take in to account all neruodiversity and ensuring that people feel they are valued in their role as well as reducing working hours while not reducing salaries.

We are very much a new concept within the charity and business world, what we aim to do is not focus on just one business activity and force people to work within it but to grow along side our teams and develop new business opportunities based on the skill sets and abitions of our teams.

Below are the details of the general responsibilities of a trustee within Living Reasons and the 12 areas we wish to recruit trustees in so that we can start to develop the charity more and start the process of registering and ultimately launching the charity within the next 12 months.

Nonspecific trustee criteria (all trustees must meet this criteria)

1) Ability to understand how the charity works in the public interest and ensure that all activities the charity carries out always fulfil this requirement. Bringing in to question any activities that may not fall within the charity’s public interest obligation, to the other trustees.

2) Agree with and agree to always work within the charity’s governing document and within the law. Making sure that the charity always operates within the governing document and within the law.

3) Act within the charity’s best interests by agreement within the other trustees on the board and following all trustee processes including decision making and voting. Avoid conflicts of interest with the operation of the charity and bring any potential conflicts of interest, to the attention of the trustee board as soon as possible.

4) Manage the charity’s resources responsibly, including ensuring the charity’s assets are used for the charity’s purpose, not take any inappropriate risks, do not over commit to the charity, taking special care when investing or barrowing and ensure the charity complies with any funding restrictions.

5) Always act with reasonable care and skill.

6) Ensure that the charity is always accountable, ensure that the charity is able to demonstrate it is compliant in law, well run and effective. Where responsibility has been delegated, trustees must ensure that the charity still remains accountable.

7) Must not be an undischarged bankrupt or be in an IVA.

8) Must not have any unspent convictions or be on the sex offenders register.

9) Must not be banned from being a company director or trustee.

All trustees will be required to attend 1 full board meeting every quarter which may be in person or over online video calling.

1 additional meeting annually that will also be at the same time as the annual general meeting must be attended.

There may be further meetings if you are on other committees or are voted on to the executive board of trustees (this is not mandatory and is a further voluntary commitment that you can nominate yourself for election).

We are looking for 12 trustees in total, once we have key trustee roles filled, we will then register the charity and move forward as we continue the recruitment process. The three main trustees we would like to have in place before registering the charity are: Operational, Financial and Income Generation. This does not mean we are not recruiting the other 9, we just won't register until after people with these skills have been recruited. Below are the twelve areas of knowldge we would like to gain trustees in. These cover all aspects of the activities the charity will carry out:.

1. Operational – overall knowledge of the day to operation of the organisation

2. Financial – an understanding financial planning and reporting

3. Creative & events

4. Research

5. Income generation

6. Education

7. Human Resources

8. Services

9.    Outreach (Social Media & Marketing)

10.     Legal

11.    Health

12.     Volunteering

This is a brand new idea and concept for a charity and business activity and requires a team that are forward thinking and are not restrained by previous ways of working, putting people at the heart of what we do, this is a charity that is supply a service for people who have struggled in the work environment as it is but will be directly generating the income for the charity as well, our service users will be our employees, trainees and volunteers and that needs to be seen as a positive move forward by anyone involved in the charity from day one.

If you would like to be part of a new and innovative way of working, please submit a CV and Cover Letter explaining which trustee role you would be interested in and why this role would be suitable for you. 

Jason, the person starting this charity has autism, ADHD, as well as mental health issues and physical conditions that are dibilitating and has spect 20 years in the charity retail industry and has loved his time working in them but has found it increasing more difficult to work in the environment due to, what he considers undue and unnecessary pressures that hinder rather than help the charity sector to reach its full potential and he feels that, key to changing this for the better is understanding the neurodiversity of humanity and catering for it in the workplace. This is how Living Reasons was developed as an idea and now he needs to find people to bring the idea to life. 

The Witness Service provides practical and emotional support and information to witnesses so that they feel valued, respected and informed and able to give their best evidence in court.

The role is court based and will involve providing support to witnesses, and their supporters, by explaining the court procedures and legal terminology, showing them around the courtroom before trial and sitting in the courtroom with them, when permitted.

What will you do?

- Give witnesses and their supporters emotional support, guidance and information at court (e.g. explain court procedures and legal terms, support them with completing expense forms).

- Show witnesses and others around the courtroom before a trial so they are familiar and at ease in the environment.

- Go into the courtroom with a witness on trial day if permitted.

- Identify additional support to which we can signpost or refer witnesses.

- Work as part of a team with other Witness Service volunteers and staff as well as liaising with court personnel.

What skills do you need?

You don’t need specific qualifications but you’ll need to:

- Be caring, mature, supportive and empathetic towards others.

- Be friendly and approachable with good listening and verbal communication skills.

- Be non-judgemental, impartial and have a confidential approach to supporting others.

- Have respect for the diversity of all people, which includes commitment to the service’s objective of ensuring equal access is offered to all witnesses and and their supporters.

- Be committed, trustworthy, discreet and prepared to adhere to Citizens Advice Witness Service standards to ensure we deliver a high standard of service to our witnesses and victims.

- Have the ability to handle challenging situations and use your initiative, experience and training to solve problems and make appropriate decisions.

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome application from people with physical or mental health conditions, and people from Black, Asian Minority Ethnic (Global Majority) and LGBTQIA+ communities. We are committed to offering a welcoming and inclusive environment to witnesses, staff and volunteers.

If you would like to help shape the Trust's strategic direction and ensure it continues to be a well-run charity that delivers benefits for nature, then consider becoming a trustee.

The Council of Trustees

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is governed by a council of trustees.  The Council is responsible for ensuring effective governance, setting and monitoring the Trust’s strategic direction and policies and ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations (including the Charities Act 2011 and Companies Act 2006). 

Trustees are required to attend council meetings. There are eight of these per year, although this may be supplemented with additional meetings as needed. Trustees meetings are held on Monday evenings at our HQ at Lower Smite Farm with the option to join online via Zoom. Trustees are also required to attend the Annual General Meeting and meetings of any committees or working groups they are involved in. The Chair, Vice Chair, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary are elected by the Council annually. Council currently has 16 members, you can read the profiles of current Trustees on our website.

The normal mode of communication for council matters is email and electronic format documents. This enables the effective use of time and resources and minimises our environmental impacts where possible.

The Duties of a Trustee

Trustees are committed to devoting time and effort to use their skills, knowledge and experience to help Worcestershire Wildlife Trust achieve its aims:

• Ensure that the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Contribute to the development of the Trust’s strategic plan and review as appropriate.
• Act always in the Trust’s best interests, working with fellow trustees to make balanced and adequately informed decisions, considering the long term as well as the short term.
• Avoid putting oneself in a position where one’s duty to the Trust conflicts with personal interests or loyalty to any other person or body.
• Ensure the financial stability of the organisation, taking special care when investing or borrowing and never over-committing the Trust.
• Ensure the Trust’s assets are only used to support or fulfil its charitable purposes and in accordance with its strategic aims and policies.
• Avoid exposing the Trust’s assets, beneficiaries or reputation to undue risk.
• Use reasonable care and skill, making use of knowledge and experience and taking appropriate advice when necessary.
• Devote enough time, thought and energy to the role, for example by preparing for, attending and actively participating in all trustees’ meetings.
• Comply with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and ensure appropriate accountability to members.

Additional Duties

• Scrutinising papers before council meetings.
• Leading or participating actively in discussions.
• Maintaining a focus on key issues.
• Participating in other meetings or working groups as required.

Interested? Please see the full information and trustee recruitment pack on the Trust's volunteer recruitment webpage.