Go wild working for the RSPB

The RSPB is on the lookout for people with a passion for wildlife to join its 2016 volunteer internship programme, providing a chance to gain valuable, on-the-ground experience working on some of the RSPB’s most beautiful nature reserves.

The RSPB Volunteer Visitor Experience Internship is an exciting opportunity for anyone wanting to gain experience in a visitor-related job in conservation whilst inspiring people to get closer to nature. The role, which will enable successful applicants to work for either six months or a year on an RSPB nature reserve, will involve a variety of tasks from promoting and running events to working with local communities and the media.

Many of the RSPB’s previous interns have gone on to work for the Society in a variety of visitor facing roles. Recent intern, Sally Granger, is now the Visitor Experience Officer at RSPB Fairburn Ings.

She said: “Learning about visitor experience on a nature reserve is as fantastic as it sounds. It has involved everything from radio and television interviews, to an afternoon shopping to equip a mud kitchen.

“I love spending my days finding new ways to excite and inspire members of the public about wildlife, and seeing families return week after week, getting outside and discovering new things.”

Kirsten Whittaker, RSPB Volunteering Development Officer, said: “This residential volunteer internship scheme will provide training, networking opportunities, on the job mentoring and support, as well as the wonderful experience of living and working on one of our stunning nature reserves with fantastic people. 

“Applicants do not need to be wildlife experts. Having a passion for wildlife, being a good communicator and a ‘people person’ are far more important.”

The interns will start in March this year. Those taking on a year internship will spend six months at two different reserves to maximise their experience. The nature reserves involved are Leighton Moss on the border of Lancashire and Cumbria, Bempton Cliffs on the East Yorkshire Coast, Coombes Valley in Staffordshire, and Fairburn Ings and Old Moor in Yorkshire. Free accommodation is provided.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 29 January.  Interviews will be held at RSPB Old Moor, near Barnsley, on Tuesday 9 February.

For more information about Internships and other RSPB volunteering opportunities, please visit www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering or email [email protected].