Community Volunteer (Beach nesting bird Community Engagement volunteer (Kessingland))

Every Spring, Little Terns return from Africa to the shores of East Norfolk and North Suffolk to breed on our beaches. These amazing birds, weighing no more than a tennis ball, are vulnerable to a range of threats, such as disturbance by people and dogs, climate change, habitat loss, and predation. Since the 1980s these birds have declined by 39% across the UK and Ireland. Other resident beach nesting birds such as Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher & Avocets are also present on our local beaches and are susceptible to the same threats.

These vulnerable birds need our protection, and with the help of staff and volunteers our project puts up fences around their breeding areas, patrols their colonies, and helps educate beach goers & the local communities about the birds and how to share our shores with them to reduce disturbance.

An important part of our project is to raise awareness of their presence on local beaches and the simple steps we can take to reduce disturbance such as keeping dogs on leads and giving the breeding birds space. If they get disturbed the parents can abandon the chicks and they can die from cold or predation. Severe disturbance events can even cause the whole colony to abandon.

By engaging with local people through running community engagement events, such as talks, pop up stands with children's nature activities, and attending local events we can help educate people on these amazing birds and how we can all help in ensuring their survival.

What will you be doing?

As a community engagement volunteer, you will play an important role in raising awareness and bringing communities together in support of beach nesting birds. Options for volunteering include:

• Helping run pop up stands giving information on sharing our shores for beach goers and dog walkers, including dog owner engagement events
• Attending local community events to run a stall with information and running children’s activities related to beach nesting birds.
• Helping with community talks
• School visits to help deliver talks and run nature activities
• Creating engaging activities to run at events

What will you get out of it?

• You will be working as part of a large friendly team of staff and volunteers all with an enthusiasm and desire to help beach nesting birds, so will meet like-minded people
• You will gain experience in working for a conservation charity and make a real difference to these vulnerable beach nesting birds
• You will get a chance to develop role specific skills, as well as other areas you are interested in learning
• Training and ongoing support will be provided. There will be opportunities to get involved in other RSPB work in the area should you wish
• Travel expenses will be available

What experience will I need?

If you can spare some time and are interested in making a difference to beach nesting birds in your local community, we would love to hear from you. Full training and support will be provided. In this role we are especially looking for people who have:

• A friendly and approachable manner, enjoy engaging with people in their local communities
• Creative ideas for activities to engage local people
• An ability to work independently and use initiative
• Time commitment flexible- some work in the winter but more events during March – August (weekends and weekdays)

Call to action

If you would like to make a difference to beach nesting birds on our local beaches and enjoy engaging with people, then we would love to hear from you. If you are interested in the role, but would like to learn more, please get in contact using the form on the right-hand side, or contact Fin.Duncan@rspb.org.uk Other roles on this project which will be advertised in Jan 2026: Volunteer Beach Warden