Role Type: Weekend Visitor Engagement Volunteer – Summer Leys Visitor Centre 

Where: The Wildlife Trust BCN Summer Leys Visitor Centre, Hardwater Road, Wollaston, NN29 7TD

When: March-October (our visitor centre is closed during the winter period)

Commitment: Flexible hours during Visitor Centre core opening hours (Thursday-Sunday, 10am to 4:30pm), and additional hours as required. This is a long term volunteering commitment and the ability to commit to regular days and times would be ideal. We are particularly looking for help on the weekends.

Overview:

We are currently looking for volunteers who would like to join our team at Summer Leys, in the role of Weekend Visitor Engagement Volunteer in our visitor centre. The centre provides us with an opportunity to engage with the public, and our Visitor Engagement Volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring all visitors to the centre and the nature reserve have a positive experience which we aim to translate into support through membership and volunteering. You'll need a passion for wildlife conservation and become actively involved with what is happening on the reserve.

The role of Visitor Engagement Volunteer is vital in ensuring all visitors to the centre and the wider nature reserve have an enjoyable visit and are supportive of the work of the Wildlife Trust. The role can be flexible to your skills and interests, and will entail some or all of the following:

• Working with staff and other volunteers to provide a positive and welcoming first impression for all visitors.
• Greeting visitors and answering/’signposting’ initial questions and queries.
• Providing information to visitors on wildlife sightings, events & activities, volunteering opportunities and Wildlife Trust membership.
• Engaging every customer to the visitor centre in accordance to the customer vision, thanking existing members for their support, talk to visitors about membership, gain support (donations or new memberships) towards the conservation work of the Trust.
• Serving customers at our refreshment hatch. This involves using our coffee machine (training provided) and selling cold drinks and snacks.
• Selling goods from the retail and café space; this will involve using our till system.
• Ensuring the visitor centre is kept organised and tidy.
• Helping with crafts and activities in the centre when required.
• Lone working in the visitor centre may be required, however there will always be a member of staff available to speak to if needed.
• Occasional work with young people (this will require an enhanced DBS check).

Qualities / Experience / Skills sought:

If you have an interest and enthusiasm for wildlife and enjoy working with people, then this may be the volunteer opportunity for you. We’re looking for people who:

• Are 18 years or older.
• Have an interest in wildlife and the work of the Wildlife Trust.
• Have a cheerful, friendly, and approachable manner when talking to the public.
• Are willing to act as the public face of the Wildlife Trust BCN and present a positive image of our organisation.
• Enjoy working as part of a team and under your own initiative.
• Are conscientious in their approach to undertaking tasks.
• Have the ability of keeping calm under pressure.                                 

Benefits to you: 

As a Weekend Visitor Engagement Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to be actively involved in one of the Trust’s most popular sites, and actively contribute to the experience that visitors have while they are here.

In-house training in aspects of wildlife and community engagement work is provided by Trust staff, aimed at improving volunteers’ skills and knowledge. 

There will also be the opportunity to attend two in-house training workshops (for example, mammal tracking and spoon carving), externally certificated courses in First Aid and food handling will also be provided.

Please fill in the application form below and send it to summerleys@wildlifebcn.org to be considered.