We aim to help volunteers feel happy and supported in the work they do. This might be through training, access to information or regular newsletters. We have a friendly team to answer your queries and love to hear about what you have been up to!
The volunteering team is based at The Barn near Preston, and we are here to help. Simon Colderley is the Volunteer Project Manager and Catherine Haddon is the Volunteering Support Officer.
Contact: 01772 324 129
Click to Email:
Register To Be A Volunteer
To become a fully-fledged volunteer and receive the benefits of volunteering, you need to take part a few times and register using our Volunteer registration form below. This helps us to keep track of volunteers and support you as you support us!
Volunteer Registration Form (online)
Volunteer Registration Form (pdf)
Diversity Monitoring Form (pdf)
This information is kept separate from volunteer records but helps us monitor and increase our volunteer diversity.
For volunteers who are under 18 and still living with parents, this must be signed and returned before you can take part.
Training
Once you have taken part three times, you are able to take part in any of the training sessions we offer for free!
From First Aid to Vegetable Growing or Sheep Lookering, and Woodland Management to Video Editing, we have a wide range of courses which are practical and teach transferable skills and theory without a pen or paper in sight!
We are beginning to offer AQA units and have over 40 to choose from, so watch this space to find out more. We also offer a programme of species identification, surveying and recording workshops to help revive these waning skills. This is part of our Wildlife Counts Project.
Both programmes come out every 6 months and you will need to book on the courses by calling or emailing Catherine Haddon, Volunteer Support Officer here.
Volunteer Training Programme
Find Out More About AQAs here
Volunteer Development
Besides Volunteer training we are keen to build the opportunities available to volunteers, whether training, socials, to make friends or gain work experience, or as a community group wanting to try something new. The following things are also available:
Annual Volunteer Conference
Usually the first Saturday in October, a great opportunity to get learn more about all the projects going on all over the region and be inspired!
Volunteer Awards
Presented at the volunteer Conference, there are seven awards from Conservation Achievement to best Group which celebrate the fantastic contributions made by volunteers.
Volunteer Long Service Badges
These pin badges are a small recognition of the many long years of hardwork that volunteers have committed. There are 5, 10, 15 and 20 year badges which are given out at the Volunteer Conference. If you haven't received yours, please contact us!
Volunteer Bring A Friend Day
Usually in February, this year over 60 volunteers introduced a friend to the delights of volunteering
Volunteer Committee
This groups meet quarterly and is a forum for volunteers to discuss and bring up issues that are important to them about how we support volunteers at the Wildlife Trust. To find out more contact us here.
Volunteers Week Event
An annual event where all the volunteer work parties meet up in June to complete a big project. This year we hope to do a massive tideline event on the dunes in Lytham, bashing in 3km of posts to deter people from damaging new dune formation.
The Mole e-newsletter
This e-newsletter is the best place to keep up to date with goings-on all over our area, it is mailed to volunteers via e-mail six times a year. If you would like to contribute to it please get in touch with us!
Resources
Click here for HR and Health And Safety documents
Diversity
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside aims to widen access to volunteering by reducing barriers to take part. This includes raising awareness amongst groups who may not traditionally volunteer and working harder to engage new groups. Funding from a range of sources has enabled us to provide minibuses, training, travel expenses, and more targeted projects. If you are a professional who would like to have a taster for your group then please get in touch.
The Volunteer Team is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund which has generously funded a five-year project to support the development of our Volunteer Programme.
