I started my Love Nature Fundraising Internship at the Midlands Regional Office in Banbury at the end of March. I joined the Community Fundraising team in preparation for the big Love Nature fundraising week, taking place all across the UK, from 28 May to 5 June. The internship interested me for a variety of reasons – primarily the chance to make a difference and raise awareness for such an important cause. The opportunity to learn new skills, as well as further develop existing ones, also appealed. There was the element of intrigue and surprise too! The variety of tasks offered by the internship, and the fact that no two days appeared to be the same made it particularly appealing... I was to find out about this particular factor very early on!
No sooner had I sorted out my desk and familiarised myself with the office, I was back out of it again. I was going on the Owlbert Tour! Are you familiar with our giant feathered friend? Unlike most owls he appears to prefer daylight to the night-time, which makes him incredibly useful in this instance.
The week was spent with Owlbert and his binoculars – not looking for other wildlife forms, but for volunteers! We travelled to various towns and cities across the Midlands – taking in Birmingham, Oxford, Banbury, Hereford, Worcester, Coventry and Leamington Spa. We encountered most of the elements on our way but while Owlbert felt the hard rain in Hereford, he also basked in glorious sunshine in Oxfordshire and Leamington!
Owlbert was very well received – taking in plenty of high-fives, hugs, photo opportunities and of course, volunteers! Owlbert (aka Stuart Nelson from The Lodge on this particular day) also managed to secure a radio interview on BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire whilst on his travels – spreading the message of Love Nature Week and the RSPB through the airwaves to thousands of potential volunteers.
It was certainly an interesting and fun-filled week – from being mobbed by groups of holidaymakers in Oxford, to dancing in the rain in Hereford, to crouching in the quiet carriage of a train to Birmingham in full owl attire! It was enjoyable and heartening to see the reactions of the public and newly signed-up volunteers, and certainly made the week’s efforts worthwhile.
Owlbert will be flying to Scotland next, so if you’re in the around those parts be sure to look out for a giant owl with a rather large pair of binoculars – I am sure he’ll be looking out for you too!
The coming weeks will see me talking to the volunteers that have already signed up, recruiting many others, and being trained in some of the systems that we use here.
Not only that but I shall be looking to sign up for one of the collections in my area myself!
The Midlands region Love Nature team have so far signed up over 160 volunteers to help with the week taking place from 28 May - 5 June. But they're still looking for more! So if you can spare as little as two hours that week why not call Mark, the man himself, on 01295 676462 and find out how to get involved.