Visitor Engagement Volunteer (On Reserves) (Weekend Volunteer Ranger, St Aidan's)

St Aidan's Nature Park is becoming an increasingly popular place to visit, particularly at weekends, and our Volunteer Rangers help to enhance the enjoyment of St Aidan’s for all these visitors; including families, visitors of all ages and levels of experience/knowledge of nature, and reasons for visiting, using positive face-to-face engagement.

Main duties:

At the start of your shift receiving a briefing and the information that you need to inform your shift. Spending time out on site talking to all visitors. Helping and encouraging visitors less experienced in bird and wildlife watching, as well as engaging with more experienced visitors to discuss their finding and share information. Monitor site for any issues and report them back to staff. Where appropriate and safe, to deal with any misuse of the site and provide guidance in proper use to visitors with the support of RSPB staff. Assist with some practical tasks on such as keeping the site tidy and litter picking.

You will need to:

Be comfortable discussing how the public can support the RSPB, including giving basic information about membership and passing visitors to a member of staff or volunteer who can help them with this. -Be able to positively interact with people of all ages and backgrounds. Have an approachable and friendly manner, good people skills, have confidence and be happy to welcome and initiate positive conversations with visitors about key areas, such as the work of the RSPB and how they can support us. Have a natural enthusiasm for wildlife and for inspiring people of all ages and background for wildlife. A basic knowledge of some the wildlife of the Park would be an advantage.

You will be working with a great, friendly team on a beautiful nature reserve, you will have the opportunity to make new friends. You will get to meet lots of new people, enjoy conversations and help people have a wonderful visit. You can claim your travel expenses when volunteering, and you will be provided with a uniform and all the resources and training you need to undertake your role. You will have opportunities to learn new things and gain new skills and to learn about our reserves and the wildlife that is found here. You will need to undertake some essential online training, either at home or on site and you will be supported by a line manager and have opportunities to discuss your role with them.

This role is not suitable for under 18's who are unaccompanied, however families can volunteer together.