Title: Wildlife Watch Leader
Status: Volunteer
Location: Motherwell (RSPB Baron’s Haugh nature reserve / Dalzell Estate)
Closing date: 2nd Feb 2025 – we recruit as volunteers apply
About being a Wildlife Watch Leader
As the junior branch of local Wildlife Trusts across the UK, Wildlife Watch provides unparalleled opportunities for young people to enjoy and learn about wildlife and to take positive action for their local environment – and you could be a key contributor!
Watch has over 135,000 subscribing members (mostly aged 7-13), and more than 800 Leaders of groups. You can find out more about our groups across Scotland here.
Most Leaders are volunteers, and all bring an enthusiasm for working with young people and for sharing their own enjoyment of the natural world. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to become inspiring Leaders, working as part of the team of local, like-minded volunteers to plan and run sessions for the Motherwell Wildlife Watch Group.
Disclaimer – the completion of an application to the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme is essential for this role, due to the close work involved with young people. Successful applicants will be supported through this simple application and costs covered by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Find out more about the PVG Scheme by visiting Disclosure Scotland’s website here.
Main tasks involve:
- Planning and preparing a programme of quality monthly outdoor sessions that give children opportunities to connect with the natural world.
- Other tasks that come with running a Wildlife Watch group include supporting the promotion of the group, maintaining health and safety and safeguarding standards, liaising with families, collecting and storing data securely (such as parental consent forms), and undertaking risk assessments.
What we are looking for:
- An interest in wildlife (You don’t need to be an expert – you can learn as you go!).
- Creativity.
- Good organisational skills.
- Enjoys the outdoors.
- Enthusiastic about helping children and/or young people to have fun discovering wildlife.
- Able to be an excellent representative of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Useful but not essential:
- Experience of working with children
- First aid qualified
- Experience of working or volunteering for conservation
What you will get in return:
- A chance to be part of an excellent environmental education group and inspire the next generation to care about wildlife and the environment.
- Get out and about and experience wildlife.
- An opportunity to create and lead sessions with support from a team.
- An induction and relevant training will be provided – plus ongoing support to further develop the skills you need for this role will be provided.
- Become part of a network of Wildlife Watch groups across all of the UK! This includes opportunities to meet and link up with other volunteers and Trust staff across the country.
About the Motherwell Wildlife Watch Group
Time commitment:
The group will meet one Sunday per month, 10:30am till 12pm. Although the group will officially launch in spring 2025 there will be some meet-ups beforehand for volunteers to get to know one another and plan for the year ahead.
Leaders usually spend between three to five hours per month for meetings and preparations.
Extra details about the sessions:
The Motherwell Wildlife Watch group is a nature club for children aged 4-12, based at RSPB Baron’s Haugh nature reserve / Dalzell Estate.
To Apply
If you are interested in this opportunity please complete the word document form linked in this advert and return it by email to our Engagement Officer at rfaichnie@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. We will get back to you as soon as possible. If you are using a Mac, please send the form as a word document.
Alternatively, if you would like to find out more, please contact Rachel Faichnie, Engagement Officer – rfaichnie@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk.