Volunteer Roles

Would you like to help us monitor our restored hay meadows? Do you have some plant ID skills or are keen to develop your skills? Then join our team of meadow surveyors.

Surveying grassland hay meadows that Cumbria Wildlife Trust has restored, or has the  potential to restore. This involves counting the cover of wildflower species and grass species within celled quadrats at random locations across the site.

• Previous botanical ID skills would be ideal but not essential if the participant is happy to learn.
• Survey skills using quadrats will be required to carry out the task but these skills can be taught too.
• A willingness to work with other volunteers as a pair to carry out the survey.
• We would like to ask for a minimum of one botanical survey (2 full days of surveying) per year.

Our grassland team works on many grassland sites; some being our own sites, on partner organisations sites, various landowners and farmers holdings etc.  With the help of our grassland survey volunteers, we are able to revisit more of our restored sites to monitor its progress and success which can support our future restoration work.

Do you love nature? Do you enjoy meeting people? Why not help support Cumbria Wildlife Trust events in South Cumbria, at Staveley Woodlands & Brown Robin nature reserves.

The role will be based at our Staveley Woodlands & Brown Robin nature reserves and predominantly outdoors. Our events at both locations are varied, so your duties will differ from event to event.

Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers often run events at nearby reserves and sometimes need an extra pair of hands.  We need someone who can help with fetching and carrying, supporting attendees, act as a backmarker on walks and generally help the event run smoothly.

Although no experience is necessary, being able to get along with people from all walks of life is essential, as is an ability to deal with uneven ground.  The benefits are great company and feeling that you’re helping people discover the natural world.

This is a very flexible role. Choose which events you’d like to help with.

Travel costs will be reimbursed and lift sharing can often be arranged on request.

This volunteer role is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Duration: Sessions will be ad hoc but will be planned well in advance, giving you plenty of notice, and may last from two hours to a full day. 

Want to learn more about this Role?

Can you lead the way by helping to set up a new Wildlife Watch club for young people in your local area?

Help us engage the next generation in taking action for wildlife!. We are looking for people to help with our existing groups in Barrow, Cockermouth, Gosling Sikes (Carlisle), and Grange. We are also looking for a Watch leader and helpers for our Penrith group.

What is a Wildlife Watch Leader Volunteer?

Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of the Wildlife Trusts and is the UK's leading club for young environmentalists. Our local Wildlife Watch clubs across Cumbria run a varied programme of fun environmental and wildlife focused activities, aimed at 6–12 year-olds and their families.

As a Wildlife Watch Leader you will be a key player in Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s work with young people. You will have the opportunity to engage with a group of young people  on a regular basis, to getting to know them and helping to shape their learning and understanding about the environment. This role can extremely rewarding for you.

 What’s in it for you?

• Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team of volunteers and staff at Cumbria Wildlife Trust

• Getting out and about in nature

• Health and wellbeing benefits

• Passing on your wildlife knowledge and enthusiasm to our next generation environmentalists

• Learning new conservation, administration and life skills that will help your future career/learning opportunities.

• Access to support and resources from Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Materials and training will be provided. Helpers will also support you with planning, preparation, delivering and administration of activities

What’s involved?

As a Wildlife Watch Leader you will:

• Publicise the presence of the group to local children, young people and their families

• Plan and organise a fun programme of activities throughout the year with, and for, the group, using themes relevant to Cumbria Wildlife Trust. You will deliver regular, hands on, informal outdoor activities, enabling young people to explore the wildlife around them more closely

• Adopt guidelines to assist you in running safe and enjoyable meetings. These include safeguarding, H&S, risk assessments and participation registration

• Promote Wildlife Watch and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, using templates and posters provided

• Keep in regular contact with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, young people and their families

• Support young people gaining Wildlife Watch awards, celebrating their activities and achievements

Who would suit this role?

This role will suit anyone interested in volunteering with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, who loves wildlife and wants to make a real difference in their local community. It would especially suit those who:

• Are keen and confident working with young people

• Have a natural enthusiasm for wildlife and nature of Cumbria (You DON’T need to be an expert)

• Are full of creative and fun activity ideas

• Are willing to learn how to organise and plan the leadership of safe sessions

• Able to work well with other volunteers and share tasks as a team

• Eager to have a real impact to support our next generation environmentalists

• Enjoy working in an outdoor environment (in all weathers!)

 This is a very flexible volunteer role. As a leader you can decide with your helpers how often - and when - you wish to run sessions

Volunteer handbook and Trust induction.

Health and safety and safeguarding training will be mandatory.Risk assessment, participant registration, Wildlife Watch templates, posters, email etc.. will all be provided

Volunteers are able to receive travel expenses of 0.45p per mile agreed in advanced with their staff contact.

First aid training will be provided for volunteer leaders.

The Trust will apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for volunteers undertaking this role because it involves working with children and young people or vulnerable adults.

In the second stage of the volunteer recruitment process, we will take up two references.

 Is this for you? Want to learn more about this role? We'd love to hear from you.

Fancy doing something different and making a difference?.

Help to keep our beautiful Cumbrian beaches clean and free from litter that could harm wildlife.

Abandoned fishing gear, plastic and other debris in the oceans poses a key threat to marine life.

We organize regular events up and down the Cumbria coast

For our organised beach cleans, all you need to do bring is with a pair of gloves. Wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear.

We provide litter pickers and bin bags for you to use.

We will do quick analysis of rubbish. Prizes will be awarded for the most litter collected and the most bizarre item found!

There will also be the opportunity to learn about Cumbrian marine life.

If this role is for you, then we’d love to hear from you.

Fancy doing something different and making a difference?

Explore and record our coastal and marine wildlife.

All welcome!

Our marine projects (‘My Local Catch’ and ‘The Bay’) run a range of regular coastal surveys along the Cumbrian coast.

From ‘Shoresearch’ citizen science projects, rocky shore walkovers, sediment cores, plankton surveys, shark egg case hunts and land-based dolphin spotting, there are many ways you can volunteer and learn about our amazing coastal and marine life.

For our organised coastal events, please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear.

If any of these events are for you, then we’d love to hear from you.

Interested in volunteering with Cumbria Wildlife Trust on the ‘The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery’ project? The Bay is a nature and wellbeing programme of events, offering people living around Morecambe Bay area, the opportunity to get outdoors, connect with nature, and take part in a range of activities. Barrow-in-Furness is at the northernmost point of the Bay project area.

Do you love wildlife? Experience and share the joy of the rich variety of habitats and wild plants and animals that live in The Bay, with event visitors.

Are you a people person? An approachable and friendly manner. Have confidence in talking to members of public, of varying ages and backgrounds.

Becoming a community events volunteer, is a unique opportunity to learn new conservation and people skills. Community event volunteers help to connect people to nature and also help people take action to protect wildlife.

We are looking for volunteers to help set up and support the delivery of events which may include coastal stargazing, UV rock pooling, guided walks, codebreaking, egg case hunts, and craft activities. We also go into organisations such as care homes with our ‘portable rockpool’ to bring a little bit of nature to people who would struggle to get outdoors.

You don’t need to be a wading bird or starfish expert, just have a natural enthusiasm for the all the wildlife that you and event visitors will encounter.

This community focused role is based indoors or outdoors.

This is a very flexible role.

You can choose the events you’d like to help with.

Training, hot brews and support will be provided.

Travel costs will be reimbursed and lift sharing can often be arranged on request.

 Please note DBS (paid by Cumbria Wildlife Trust) may be required. Safeguarding training will also be provided.

Is this for you? Want to learn more about this role? We'd love to hear from you.

Interested in volunteering with Cumbria Wildlife Trust on the ‘The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery’ project? The Bay is a nature and wellbeing programme of events, offering people living around Morecambe Bay area, the opportunity to get outdoors, connect with nature, and take part in a range of activities.

Do you love coastal wildlife? Barrow-in-Furness at the northernmost point of the Bay project area, is home to Earnse Bay. Low tide here reveals rockpools teeming with life- from anemones to starfish. These are amazing creatures that when observed or handled, help reconnect people with nature through their sound, scents and textures.

Are you a people person? Help bring coastal wildlife to people who don’t know about Earnse Bay rockpools, or the people who aren’t able visit the beach.

Becoming a rockpool roadie, is a unique opportunity to learn new conservation and people skills. Help Cumbria Wildlife Trust bring wildlife to more people, and more people to wildlife.

We’re looking for volunteers to shadow friendly members of staff to:

 -visit the rockpools at Earnse Bay, collect rockpool creatures and take them to places like care homes for people to enjoy.

-engage with organisations such as care home residents, providing information on Earnse Bay’s coastal wildlife and promoting the work of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust in general.

-allow people to engage with rockpool creatures. The aim is for people to ‘connect’ with the creatures and one another, increasing peoples’ mutual happiness, health and sense of nature.

-after their day out, all rockpool creatures will then need to be put safely back onto the beach.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a rockpool roadie? Want to learn more about this role? We'd love to hear from you.

The Langham Arts Trust is an extraordinary charity, combining a passion for creative excellence with a gospel mission: to make Jesus’ name known and glorified through music and the arts.

The work of the charity today encompasses a range of exciting musical ventures, from witnessing to non-believers through music and worship, to serving the wider church with the gifts and resources of the All Souls Orchestra. The charity is looking to expand its work with young people, and grow the capacity of the orchestra in order to engage in more opportunities to point people to Christ through music.

The Trust is seeking to appoint a new Chair and Treasurer. These two appointments will be instrumental in managing change and supporting growth for the Trust. In particular, the Chair will lead a refreshment of the Board and be a skilled relationship builder.

This is an exciting moment to join the board of an organisation with a vital, yet under-represented, mission in the UK church music landscape, and an organisation that is changing and growing rapidly.

Carnelian Search have been appointed to lead this search on behalf of Langham Arts Trust.

Framlingham & Saxmundham

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

Unfortunately thousands of cats each year are abandoned or have strayed and rely on charities like Cats Protection for help. Becoming a TNR volunteer is one way you can make a real difference to cats in your local area. Our TNR volunteers help reduce the number of feral cats by raising awareness of our TNR programmes, setting humane traps to safely capture cats, taking them to local vets to be neutered, and hopefully returning them back to their territory. Local TNR programmes are crucial, as feral and abandoned cats present a huge challenge for communities across the UK.

What can you expect to be doing? 

• Trapping cats using humane methods
• Taking cats to local vets to be neutered 
• Returning cats to their territory or finding a suitable alternative

The role might also include:

• Regular feeding of feral colonies
• Promoting neutering by building relationships with farmers, land owners and local businesses
• Liaising with vets to promote and arrange neutering 

A bit more information about this role and the team

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping reduce the number of unwanted cats and improving the lives of cats in your local area. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Basic knowledge of cats and cat care
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• A well organised and practical approach
• Patience and perseverance
• The ability to deal with sensitive situations
• Good communication skills
• A full, clean driving licence and access to a vehicle  

Time expectation 

This is a flexible role and the hours will vary depending on the number of cats identified for specific TNR campaigns. Our current TNR volunteers spend about 2 to 3 hours per week in this role which can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed. 

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

If you enjoy driving and would love to use those skills to help our cats, this could be the role for you. Our transport volunteers provide vital assistance to our teams and volunteer groups in the local area by transporting equipment, litter, food– and even cats! They have the essential role of connecting our network of volunteers, sites, vets and supporters.

Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection, we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us for help.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Arranging and transporting equipment, litter and cat food
• Transporting cats to and from vets, foster homes and centres
• Transporting equipment to and from events

A bit more information about this role and the team

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by providing transport assistance to local volunteer groups and teams. You will meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Good organisation and time management skills
• Knowledge of the local community
• A current driver’s licence
• Either access to a vehicle or happy to drive a Cats Protection van (subject to availabilty)
• The ability to carry out some heavy lifting

Time expectation

Our transport volunteers usually spend two to four hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

Our volunteer website editors promote the activities of our local volunteer groups and teams by helping keep their websites relevant, up to date and engaging for members of the public. Local websites are one of the places members of the public will look to find out more about Cats Protection. A positive local profile can help raise funds, promote adopting a cat, promote neutering and make sure as many people as possible learn about great cat welfare.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Sourcing news and information for websites
• Communicating with others across Cats Protection
• Sourcing and updating information around rehoming, cat welfare, fundraising and volunteer recruitment
• Regularly updating and posting on your group’s website using the charity’s content management system (CMS)
• Ensuring that content meets with internal and external policies and guidelines

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by making sure your local volunteer group or team’s website is exciting, current and informative. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Good interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• The ability to communicate well with a range of people
• Willingness to be part of a team
• Good IT skills
• Editorial and photo editing skills (would be an advantage)

Time expectation

Our website editor volunteers usually spend two to three hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

Additional information

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. To make sure this is the case, we provide support and guidance both remotely from our National Cat Centre and face to face through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We also offer varied online and face-to-face training and have wide-ranging policies covering all aspects of volunteering. We hope the support we provide will ensure our volunteers have a great experience with Cats Protection.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising events organisers have the exciting and varied role of helping plan and deliver local fundraising events to raise the vital funds needed to help our feline friends. Our fundraising events organisers use their passion for cats and people to plan cake sales, barn dances, quiz nights and everything in between.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Planning fundraising events and activities like cake sales, quiz nights and barn dances
• Providing the treasurer with information on funds raised from fundraising events
• Encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 
• Following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise funds through events. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated group of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Good organisational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• The ability to prioritise and delegate
• An appreciation of the importance of handling money and charity resources responsibly
• Knowledge of your local community

Time expectation

Our fundraising events organisers usually spend two to three hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer.

Additional information

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. To make sure this is the case, we provide support and guidance both remotely from our National Cat Centre and face to face through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We also offer varied online and face-to-face training and have wide-ranging policies covering all aspects of volunteering. We hope the support we provide will ensure our volunteers have a great experience with Cats Protection.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

As a charity we can continue to help cats and kittens in need thanks to the donations we receive at fundraising events from generous members of the public. Our Fundraising Event Helpers have the exciting and varied role of helping at local fundraising events - such as cakes sales, barn dances, quiz nights – and everything in between!

What can you expect to be doing?

• Help set up and/or man stalls at events
• Help on collection days like supermarket collections events or street collections
• Help at fundraising events such as Quiz nights, cake sales and dances
• Promoting a professional image of Cats Protection at events

What the benefits to you and the cats?

You’ll meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers. By being the link between members of the public and Cats Protection, the money you collect will make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens.

We're looking for someone with

• A friendly, outgoing outlook
• An affinity with people
• Willingness to be part of a team
• A passion for feline welfare

Time expectation

This role is really flexible! You could choose to volunteer at one event for a couple of hours or attend multiple fundraising events.  

We’ll keep you up to date with upcoming local events where volunteers are needed. You’ll then be able to choose which events you’d like to volunteer at and how many hours you’d like to give. However much time you can give, your contribution will help raise much needed funds to continue the work of Cats Protection.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

Thank you for joining us and sharing in this commitment and for everything you will do during your time with Cats Protection.

Communications Volunteer (Harrogate and District)

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Communications Volunteer for the Harrogate and District Group. As our Communications Volunteer you’ll make sure people know they have a local MS Society group to turn to.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your writing skills, and gain an experience of communicating across a range of digital channels.

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.