Site Checks and Maintenance Volunteer (Climate FORTH Cycling Route Signage and Equipment Audit)

Please note, we are recruiting using a standardised RSPB system so the ‘Site checks and maintenance volunteer’ role profile attached is a general guide only and not specific to the Cycling route signage and Equipment audit volunteer role. Specifics on the Cycling Route Audit Volunteer role can be found below.

This volunteering opportunity is available for a fixed period of time in August. You do not need to be available over the whole period. You need to be available to go on at least one audit cycle ride (half-day/a day) during this period.

Why do we want you?

We are looking for volunteers with access to a safe bike and their own helmet to take part in a one-off mission to audit signage and equipment linked to cycle tourism in the Forth area. The Climate FORTH project wants to encourage more people to use the Round the Forth cycle route when visiting the area and we need your help to identify what improvements are needed in parts of Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Fife. These improvements will be submitted as part of a Stage 2 application to National Lottery Heritage Fund this autumn, that will seek funds to deliver the Climate FORTH project between 2023 and 2026. 

Why are we auditing signage and cycle equipment?

Inner Forth Futures is a partnership of nine member organisations led by RSPB Scotland and including Sustrans, NatureScot, Clackmannanshire Council, Stirling Council, Falkirk Council, Fife Council and Green Action Trust. Historic Environment Scotland are an advisory member. 

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Inner Forth Futures is developing a new project, Climate FORTH (Furthering Our Resilience Through Heritage). A key objective of Climate FORTH is to support the development of a green visitor economy by promoting local heritage and developing walking and cycling tourism in the area. To learn more about Climate FORTH and the Inner Forth Futures partnership, visit our website. 

As part of this project, we are looking at improving signage between the ‘Round the Forth’ cycle route (NCN76) and nearby heritage sites, attractions and hubs. In addition to signage, we also want to identify where additional cycling and walking-related equipment should be installed. This audit will help us to identify where signage and equipment are needed.

What will you be doing?

We would like you to cycle a section of the NCN76 and complete audit forms at several locations along the cycle route that act as junctions between the cycle route and nearby points of interest. The whole audit area covers the circular Round the Forth cycle route from Stirling to the Forth Bridges and is divided into 12 sections that you can select from.  

You decide when you want to go on your audit ride and how often you want to be out!   Audit sections vary in length (between 4 and 7miles) and all include a mix of on-road and traffic-free segments. You can also select more than one section to audit. Each section may take between half a day and a full day to complete, depending on the number of points of interest to audit on the way. 

The Round the Forth Route and the 12 sections of the audit can be seen here.

What skills do you need? 

No previous experience in auditing cycle signage and equipment is needed, however, it is important that you are an experienced and confident cyclist, as all audit sections include on-road segments. You can choose to cycle alone, with other confident cyclists such as a friend, family member or another volunteer. 

What else do you need? 

You will need to: 

• Have your own bike (please make sure your bike is safe to ride - see Sustrans’ M check here). 
• Have and wear your own helmet (a high-vis top is also required but can be provided) 
• Be available to undertake at least one audit ride in the Forth area between 5th August and 21st August 2022. 

If you would like to volunteer but cannot attend the online training session on Thursday 4th August at 6pm-7pm, please get in touch with helene.corrieu@rspb.org.uk, Climate FORTH Visitor & Business Engagement Project Officer, before signing up!  

What’s in it for you? 

• An opportunity to be out and be active!  
• Ride a cycle route you like or discover a route you’ve never cycled before!  
• Develop your audit skills  
• Support the development of a local cycling and walking tourism project. 
• Help develop more cycling infrastructure to encourage more people to get on their bikes!

How does it work?

• Once you have registered as a volunteer, we will ask you to select which section(s) you would like to audit, and you will be invited to a short online training session during which you will be provided with more information on the audit and on how to record information during your audit-ride. It is also the perfect opportunity to ask any question you may have! 
• The preliminary online training session will take place on Thursday 4th August at 6pm and will last approximately one hour. If you are not available at this date and time, please let us know in advance. 
• The audit ride does not take place on a specific date! Once you have attended the online training session and selected a section of the cycle route to audit, you have until Sunday 21st August to complete your audit.
• You can complete the audit on your own, but we would encourage you to carry out this activity with other cyclists (other volunteers, or non-volunteers) for safety reasons.

If you have any questions about Climate FORTH cycle route audit volunteers, please get in touch with Helene Corrieu, Climate FORTH Project Officer – Visitor & Business Engagement: helene.corrieu@rspb.org.uk / 07516 588 143

Climate FORTH’s development phase is made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.