Volunteering opportunities

The following is a list of current volunteering opportunities with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Whether it be helping out on our reserves or fundraising, joining a local members' group or recording a squirrel sighting, your can make a big difference to the future of Scotland's wildlife.

Health & Safety for Volunteers

Help out on our reserves

Dundee and Angus

Volunteer opportunities available at The Miley. Contact Rab Potter on 07920 468 568 or e-mail rpotter@swt.org.uk

East Central Scotland

A volunteer shepherd is required. Contact Alistair Whyte on 01236 617115 or 07920 468562 or e-mail awhyte@swt.org.uk

Handa Island

Short-term volunteers are required to spend one, two or (occasionally) three weeks on Handa Island, off the west coast of Sutherland. Main duty is to help visitors from the boat using a portable landing jetty and invite them to the shelter to give them a brief introductory talk on the island and its wildlife. There are usually two short-term volunteers at a time.

We are also recruiting for five long-term volunteers on Handa, including a Seabird Monitoring volunteer, a Skua Fieldwork volunteer, an Information Assistant and two Practical volunteers.

For more information on short and long-term opportunities, visit our Handa volunteering page.

Highlands

Residential work parties available throughout the year. Opportunity to join a small team of like-minded volunteers living and working on one of the Northern reserves contributing to a practical project on the ground.

Conservation tasks could include building boardwalks, tree planting, woodland management, scrub control or even deer counting. The main focus of this work will be carried out on Handa Island, Ben Mor Coigach and Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve.

Contact Glen Campbell on 07920 468 567 or e-mail gcampbell@swt.org.uk for more details.

Perthshire

The Perthshire Ranger runs a calendar of informal work days every year, on all five of our local Perthshire reserves, which are an ideal opportunity to:

• Experience the more unusual reserves in the company of a ranger team
• Make a difference to practical conservation on your local reserves
• Gain more skills and experience in wildlife ID, surveying, and practical reserve management
• Have some fun in good company and get fit!

There are usually three work days a month, on a variety of weekdays to suit everyone, even some Saturdays. They usually run from 10.30am-3.30pm.

The work days are all different - not all are heavy manual work; some are very easy walking and light work suitable for everyone. You can pick and choose which days suit you and there is no fixed commitment - just come when you can.

All tools, and safety equipment and training provided - just bring yourself, lunch and water. Contact Emma Rawling on 01350 727 337 or 07920 589 069 for a copy of the full calendar, details of tasks and locations and to register as a volunteer. Alternatively, e-mail erawling@swt.org.uk     

Scotland-wide

Practical work on our reserves through our network of Conservation Teams. Contact Peter Gilbert on 0131 312 4732 or e-mail pgilbert@swt.org.uk

Conservation/survey work with our Members' Centre groups. Contact your local Members' Centre for more information.

Admin and office support required for our Reserve Managers. Contact us on 0131 312 7765 or e-mail enquiries@swt.org.uk

Lend a hand in our Visitor Centres

Montrose Basin, Angus

Volunteers needed at Montrose Basin Visitor Centre, including helping out in the Centre shop, selling tickets and advising visitors on the birds that can be seen from the viewing windows. Contact Caroline Hendry on 01674 676 336 or e-mail montrosebasin@swt.org.uk

Scotland-wide

For information on volunteering at the Falls of Clyde in New Lanark, please call 01555 665 262 or e-mail fallsofclyde@swt.org.uk. To enquire about opportunities at Loch of the Lowes in Dunkeld, call 01350 727 337 or e-mail lochofthelowes@swt.org.uk

Get involved in a Wildlife Watch group

Aberdeenshire

Our Stonehaven Wildlife Watch group is desperately seeking someone to take it over as the current leaders are retiring. The group has been running successfully for a number of years. If you would like to take an active role in planning and running this group, please contact Donna Mathieson on 0131 312 4712 or e-mail dmathieson@swt.org.uk

Stirling

The Stirling group is looking for more group leaders. Getting involved in a Wildlife Watch group is a rewarding and fun experience. Helping to lead activities from tree-planting to pond-dipping and everything in between! You don't have to be a wildlife expert- you just need to be enthusiastic and enjoy working with kids.

The Stirling group meets once a month. For details, contact Donna Mathieson on 0131 312 4712 or e-mail dmathieson@swt.org.uk

Highlands

Our Ullapool group is seeking new leaders for their well-established group. Getting involved in a Wildlife Watch group is a rewarding and fun experience. Helping to lead activities from tree-planting to pond-dipping and everything in between! You don't have to be a wildlife expert- you just need to be enthusiastic and enjoy working with kids.

The Ullapool group meets once a month. For details, contact Donna Mathieson on 0131 312 4712 or e-mail dmathieson@swt.org.uk

Scotland-wide

If you are interested in starting a group in your area, contact Donna Mathieson on 0131 312 4712 or e-mail dmathieson@swt.org.uk

Join your local Members' Centre

Scotland-wide

To join one of our local groups, visit your local Members' Centre page. You can also help out by hosting wildlife events and activities, taking part in community fundraising, becoming an office-bearer or assisting your local Reserve Convenor with conservation work.

If you would like to set up a new Members' Centre, please contact Nick Wright on 0131 312 4750 or e-mail nwright@swt.org.uk

Help save Scotland's red squirrels

Various locations

If you live in one of our sample areas, you might consider taking part in our red and grey squirrel surveys. For more information, please contact Mel Tonkin on 0131 312 4733 or e-mail mtonkin@swt.org.uk

Scotland-wide

Wherever you are in the country, you can help us better understand the distribution of both red and grey squirrels by reporting a squirrel sighting.

Support our policy, planning and campaign work

Scotland-wide

The Trust has a network of local planning groups across Scotland that work closely with our National Planning Coordinator to respond to planning applications and support Local Biodiversity Action Plans. If you would like to join an existing group, or set up a new one, please contact Maggie Keegan on 0131 312 4762 or e-mail mkeegan@swt.org.uk

A letter to your local MP or MSP can make all the difference when it comes to persuading government to do the right thing for nature. To join our letter-writing campaign and receive your free letter-writing kit, contact Tony King on 0131 312 4771 or e-mail tking@swt.org.uk

Other ways you can help

If you would like information on volunteering opportunities not listed above, please contact us on 0131 312 7765.