RSPB Team Member (Writer and Blogger Volunteer, Pagham Harbour & Medmerry)

Want to make a difference to wildlife from your own home? Want to use your writing and communications skills to help nature? Could you help bring Pagham Harbour and Medmerry reserves into the local media spotlight? We're looking for someone to write short articles and blogs and spread the word about our conservation work to the local community!

You will get to learn about the wider work of the RSPB on a national and regional level, as well as building new relationships with the local community and special interest groups.

What we're looking for

We’re looking for a volunteer to help spread the word about all the wonderful wildlife and conservation work we do at the RSPB Pagham Harbour & Medmerry reserves by writing articles for publication in local print and digital media.

Main tasks

• Planning and writing short articles for publication in local newspapers, magazines and websites about the RSPB’s East Solent reserves, including Pagham Harbour, Medmerry and Langstone Harbour.
• Obtaining the correct permissions to share stories, names and photography.
• Communicate regularly with the Visitor Experience team and other reserve staff regarding timelines and upcoming news and activities for sharing throughout the year.

Key requirements of the role

Essential:

• You will need to have a good command of the English language and some experience of writing articles to strict lengths and deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to adapt writing style.
• You will also need to feel comfortable writing in the RSPB ‘voice’ and house style.
• You will need to feel confident writing about birds and wildlife.
• Computer literate.
• Ability to work independently and use own initiative.
• Able to make a commitment to several short regular shifts per month, some flexibility may be needed.
• Some knowledge of our RSPB Pagham Harbour & Medmerry reserves, including the birds and wildlife you can see through the seasons, but assistance and advice will be provided

Beneficial:

• Experience of writing copy on behalf of organisations.
• A familiarity with the nature reserves and local community.

What’s in it for you?

If you're the kind of person who would like to volunteer but is unable to commit regularly, then this could be perfect for you! This suits a candidate who is looking to volunteer from home and have flexibility in your time commitment.

Develop your writing and blogging skills while having fun, and enthusing people about the joys of nature. The RSPB is an active and exciting conservation charity. We can help you gain skills and give you a valuable insight into our work.

• You will be joining a great team working for nature on our East Solent reserves.
• You will be given full training and support and provided with whatever material you need to write articles, and there will be scope to learn on the job!
• You will also be able to access a comprehensive learning and development programme.
• You will be allocated a line manager and will have regular opportunities to discuss your role with this person.
• You can claim travel expenses (according to RSPB policy) to and from the reserve when you need to attend and will be able to access the RSPB’s Thank you Volunteer Card.

Notes

Guidelines will be provided and expenses will be re-imbursed where necessary. The RSPB is the country's largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside will teem with life once again. We also play a leading role in a worldwide partnership of nature conservation organisations. Your time and skills could make a real difference to the work of the RSPB and it would be great if you could join us.

This is a rewarding role that offers the opportunity to support the RSPB in a big way. You'll find satisfaction in making a genuine contribution to nature conservation. You will learn all about how the RSPB works and gain experience working for an environmental charity.

We like to think we're a friendly and welcoming team, so you'll have the opportunity to make new friends too.