Marketing Events Volunteers
If you have a few hours to spare and enjoy meeting people, perhaps you can help us by attending local community events throughout the year, working on the Trust’s information and sales stand to raise the profile of the Trust.
Person Specification:
- Be an excellent communicator with adults and children alike.
- Be happy to work with the general public.
- Be enthusiastic, positive and professional.
- Be literate and numerate.
- Be in good health as some lifting is required.
- An interest in wildlife would be an advantage.
- Own car and clean driving licence is essential, fuel costs of 20p per mile paid.
All necessary training will be provided – to include information on the Trust’s work and setting up the stand.
If you would like to help us, please contact Carolyn O'Hagan, 01872 273939 ext 204, or email carolyn.ohagan@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk
Wild Penwith Volunteer Group project
This group helps with our Living Landscapes project in the west of Cornwall and is funded by the Community Grants Programme. Local volunteers undertake weekly practical conservation tasks across West Penwith. Since January 2010, the volunteer group has been helping us to improve their local environment. Tasks have included the clearing and re-establishment of a ditch, some rhododendron clearance, construction of an otter holt and some Cornish hedging.
If you live in the Penwith area and would like more information or to be involved in this weekly (Tuesday) working group, please contact Claire Rodger on 01872 273939 ext 201 or email claire.rodger@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk
Divers needed for Seasearch project
Seasearch is a national project for volunteer sports divers who have an interest in what they are seeing under water, who want to learn more and to help protect the marine environment. Cornwall Wildlife Trust is responsible for co-ordinating all Seasearch activities in the county. Go to the Seasearch page to find out how you can help as a volunteer.
Seaquest Basking Shark project
We need volunteers to carry out land-based surveys at Hella Point (grid reference SW3721), monitoring basking shark populations and also recording other megafauna such as cetaceans, sun fish, recognisable seabirds, etc. Following a training session in May 2010, this project begins on 1st June and continues until 1st September. Volunteers should be over 18, have transport, be prepared to survey sitting on cliffs in all weather conditions and, if possible, bring binoculars. Survey slots are 5.30am to noon and 2.00pm to 8.30pm daily; even if you can only manage one survey slot a week we should love to hear from you.
Email baskingshark@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk with your name and contact detail and the Project Officer will be in touch. Last year's survey information is on the Basking Shark project page.
Seaquest Netsafe project
If volunteers do not want to travel to Land's End for the Basking Shark watch, perhaps you live near one of our Seaquest Netsafe sites: Boscastle, St Ives, Rinsey Head, Mullion Cove, the Manacles, Black Head or Portwrinkle in Whitsand Bay. We need volunteers for land-based surveys to help gather information about the inshore cetacean populations.
Please email netsafe@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk with your name and contact detail and the Project Officer will be in touch.
Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas
If you live near a VMCA, you can become involved as a volunteer - take the first step by emailing abby.crosby@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk. If you are in the vicinity of Looe, which has an established Volunteer Group, you will be welcomed if you want to take part in the regular socials, meetings and survey work - such as the monthly seal survey on Looe Island - rocky shore surveys or helping with the education and events programme.
The Helford VMCA also has an established group, and new VMCA Groups are being established in Polzeath, St Agnes, Fowey, where a programme of activities, events and training are being set up (see VMCA page). Volunteers can help in these areas with education work involving schools, the events programme and diving / Seasearch. (For all activities involving youngsters, volunteers will require a CRB check, which is organised by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.)
Computer database volunteers occasionally needed for entering wildlife records
The Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) is keen to find volunteers who are able to help with the important task of computerising wildlife records for the ERCCIS database. Currently, ERCCIS would like to recruit a volunteer to enter marine data and get these files on to our system in order to inform our work in the marine environment. Additionally, there will be other database and administration tasks to assist with. Full training will be given. Please see the ERCCIS vacancies page for more information and how to apply.
Full-time nature reserves volunteers needed
We are currently recruiting for practical, enthusiastic team members to join our Volunteer Nature Reserves Estates Team which supports the work of Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Mid and West Cornwall Reserves Officers. Being part of this team will develop your knowledge and skills in practical habitat and reserve management. The team works both independently and alongside our staff out on our 55 nature reserves. Three positions are available. For full details download the Volunteer Nature Reserves Estates Team information sheet. To apply send your CV and covering letter to Ba Whitehead, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, TR4 9DJ quoting 'Estates Team Volunteers’. For enquiries about the position call Callum Deveney, Reserves Manager on (01872) 273939 ext 222.
One-off practical conservation work opportunities
If you are looking to attend a one-off conservation work party these are sometimes organised by our Local Groups. To see if there are any coming up in your area please see the What's on page and search for 'Work party' in the 'Type of event' search field. Other than these work parties, organised by Local Groups, we are unable to offer casual conservation work to volunteers, however the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) specialise in this so please contact them. We do have full time practical conservation volunteer positions available within the Nature Reserve Estates Team, please see above.
Fox Club volunteers wanted to help run events
Fox Club is Cornwall Wildlife Trust's junior membership branch and attracts some of the most committed volunteers in the Trust. Fox Club relies upon a dedicated team of volunteers. Would you like to be one of them? Go to the Fox Club volunteering opportunities page to find out more and how to apply.
Magazine deliverers needed to deliver Wild Cornwall
Are you prepared to hand deliver Cornwall Wildlife Trust's membership magazine Wild Cornwall? This volunteer activity saves us thousands of pounds a year on postage costs, so please contact Andrea Toy, Membership Manager, or Ba Whitehead, Central Services Manager, on (01872) 273939. We currently need deliverers in the following areas:
Penwith district (urgent)
Carrick district
Restormel district
Local Groups volunteers
Getting involved with a Cornwall Wildlife Trust Local Group is great way to meet like-minded people and to help raise awareness of Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Many Local Groups organise wildlife walks and talks for all to enjoy - see our What's On pages. You can help out with activities, deliver our Wild Cornwall magazine and more. Contact our head office for details of your Local Group.
