As part of a team of leaders and helpers, Watch Helpers will:

• Assist Leaders in planning a fun programme of wildlife activities throughout the year, inspired by nature and the environment.
• The emphasis is on regular, hands-on, informal outdoor activities, enabling children to explore the wildlife around them more closely.
• Assist in the delivery of each two-hour monthly sessions, working together with a team of other volunteer leaders and helpers.
• Assist in the running of sessions following our safeguarding guidelines and H&S procedures, including risk  assessments, participant registration - when they start and when they attend each month. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust will provide all templates and forms. 
• Attend (where possible) Wildlife Watch volunteer training/sharing events to connect with other Watch leaders and helpers.
• Utilise the free and supportive online materials and ideas provided by the national Wildlife Watch website and network.
• Support the administration of children gaining Wildlife Watch awards, celebrating children’s activities and achievements.

• Approachable with a friendly personality.
• Interested in wildlife and conservation.
• Like listening and helping people.
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Efficient at taking messages and passing them on
• Some IT skills would be advantageous but not absolutely necessary

Previous experience and knowledge of nature conservation and wildlife is far less important than an 
empathy with children and the ability to interest them in fun ways to investigate their surroundings. 
However, volunteering in this role does involve commitment and joint responsibility for the safety and well-being of the group members.

• Training on child welfare and safeguarding, planning and running sessions and activities.
• Two training/networking days each year for volunteer teams to get together and share ideas.
• Support in promotion of the group, and recruitment of children to the group.
• Personal and skills development to help future careers/learning opportunities.
• An opportunity to mentor other volunteers and helpers.
• Rewarding outcomes, enabling children to access nature and wildlife in your local area.

Wildlife Watch groups meet once a month for a two-hour session (ideally Saturday / Sunday daytime), run by Watch Leaders and Helpers who can commit to most sessions so there is continuity. 

Wildlife Watch Leaders can delegate session delivery to other group helpers if occasionally required and some groups may choose to deliver more or fewer sessions during certain seasons. This can be agreed with the Watch Organiser.

There are occasional group planning meetings which volunteers may organise to help plan sessions and two training/networking days per year for all Watch Leaders and Helpers across the county to get together.
 

Yes, a reference is required, as well as an Enhanced DBS check.