Purpose of role

By 2030 we want one in four schools taking action for wildlife in Worcestershire. To do this we need children and staff to be connected to nature and confident to go outdoors. Our school will help deliver our popular school visit programme inspiring visiting school groups to love being outdoors and to care for their local wild spaces.

Type of work

You will assist School Engagement Officer to deliver our outdoor learning programmes to schools on full and half day visits. We deliver programmes from Early Years to KS3. On one session you may be pond dipping, in another you may be measuring a river or even taking part in a fossil hunt. Volunteers will assist groups of children and students to explore the habitat around them and complete fun enjoyable activities. Volunteers will also help the team set up and clear up at the end of the day.

Experience/skills needed

1. At least two years experience delivering activities or supporting primary school aged children (4–11 years old) in a formal school setting or informal group such as Forest School or uniformed group.
2. Strong communication skills to engage and inspire children about nature.
3. Able to work flexibly and can adapt quickly.
4. Happy to get stuck in with sensory, messy and creative activities.
5. Interest and enthusiasm for wildlife conservation and aims of the Wildlife Trusts.
6. Willingness to be outside in all weathers.
7. A basic knowledge of UK wildlife and ID skills, although you don’t need to be an expert.
8. Able to work in a team.
9. Understanding of child safeguarding and health and safety procedures.

This position will require you to provide details of two referees and may be subject to a DBS check. We will also invite you to an informal interview.

Time/days per week

Our school visits run Monday – Friday. Volunteer hours are flexible with volunteers choosing what sessions they book in for. A typical volunteer day would run from 9am – 3.30pm (including setting up and packing away time).

Benefits

As a school visits volunteer you will have the support of the School Engagement Officer. You will be joining a fantastic and friendly team of casual sessional staff and other school volunteers. You will receive health and safety and child safeguarding training as well as any other training needed such as first aid. We also hold sessions to improve our knowledge such as geology and freshwater invertebrate workshops.

We’re Wild About Inclusion

To us, this means inspiring, empowering and engaging people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities, to change the natural world for the better.  It also means cultivating inclusive workspaces that are free from discrimination, where differences are valued, everyone can be themselves and flourish, just like nature!

Enquire now