Wildlife Watch Volunteers

Our Wildlife Watch groups are led mainly by fantastic volunteers who are interested in helping young people connect with nature.

We have over 20 Wildlife Watch groups across Scotland, all the way from the Borders to the highlands and islands!

Most groups meet once a month at the weekend for two hours. Check out the Wildlife Watch webpage to find your nearest group and more information about them.

Would you like to volunteer with a Wildlife Watch group?

Volunteering with Wildlife Watch is an excellent opportunity for people interested in the outdoors to help young people have fun discovering wildlife. Every session is a chance to learn together, so don’t worry if you’re not a nature expert!

You can support Wildlife Watch groups by becoming a Wildlife Watch Leader, Helper or Assistant. See which role suits you best by looking at the role descriptions below.

Wildlife Watch volunteers standing in a circle playing a game with sticks — Wildlife Watch Leaders at a Training Day (c) Rachel Faichnie

Leader

Age: 18 +

Responsibilities:

Work with your fellow volunteer Leaders to plan the programme of sessions and activities.
Ensure all safeguarding, health and safety procedures are undertaken.
Supervise children during group sessions.

Registration process involves: Application form, PVG, references, Children Safeguarding Level 2 training, GDPR training, online induction talk, self-disclosure form, and induction completion form.

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 free application. Find out more about the PVG Scheme by visiting Disclosure Scotland’s website.

Helper

Age: 16 +

Responsibilities:

Help the group sessions run smoothly by assisting the Wildlife Watch Leaders and Assistants.

Registration process involves: Application form, PVG, references, online induction talk, self-disclosure form, and induction completion form.

Assistant

Age: 13 – 16

Responsibilities:

Help the group sessions to run smoothly by assisting the Wildlife Watch Leaders and Helpers with the activities.
Act as a mentor or role model for younger members.

Registration process involves: Parental consent form

To apply, please follow the instructions and complete the application form at the bottom of the page.

Wildlife Watch Leaders

Wildlife Watch Leaders are supported by the Engagement Officer at the Scottish Wildlife Trust. They receive regular communication from the Trust, including the Wildlife Watch Scotland magazine. They can also attend annual Wildlife Watch Training Days and connect with fellow Wildlife Watch Leaders all across the country!

Registered Wildlife Watch Leaders can access our Resources for Leaders page for more guidance and resources.

Setting up a new group in your local area or school

If there is not already a Wildlife Watch group in your area or school, we can help you to start one! Groups can be set up by organisations, schools, or adults in a community.

For more information, please check out our How to start a new Wildlife Watch group document and get in touch with our Engagement Officer, Rachel, at rfaichnie@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Educators’ Mailing List

If you would like to receive our latest outdoor education updates, you can sign up to our Educators’ mailing list. From activity ideas and resources to inspirational stories, there’s plenty of content that’s perfect for planning outdoor trips and activities!

Coloured icon of a goldfinch flying

For more information

For all enquiries or further questions, please contact Rachel Faichnie, Engagement Officer (rfaichnie@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk).

If you are interested in applying to be a Wildlife Watch volunteer, please complete the application form below and return it to rfaichnie@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. Please state which Wildlife Watch group you are interested in joining or whether you would like to start a new group.

Please note, school groups do not accept volunteers from the public. Most groups would be happy to get more support, but some existing Wildlife Watch groups may not need additional volunteers at this time. You can see which Wildlife Watch groups are in urgent need of more volunteers on our Volunteer Opportunities webpage.

Download helper application form Download leader application form