Stacey is the second of our guest bloggers this week who moved from volunteering to working with the RSPB. Stacey tells us what happened when she volunteered whilst looking for a change of career.
Emily Sinclair – Volunteer Development Officer
A career change led to me helping out at the RSPB’s headquarters in Cardiff. I’d graduated from University with a photography degree a few years back, found an administrative role close to home and was contemplating what to do next. I decided to reduce my working hours, so I could volunteer for a few conservation organisations. Once a week I would complete practical volunteering with a local conservation charity and help out at the RSPB’s office with the Community Team on my other day off. My volunteer role with the RSPB involved booking and arranging the diaries of membership recruitment staff in the office, who attend various sites across Wales to help us sign up new members to support the work of the RSPB. Each week when I volunteered the office was full of energy, creating a great atmosphere to work in.
During my time volunteering an opportunity to become an administrator for the RSPB came up, so I jumped at the chance. Throughout my time as a member of staff I was always reminded of the importance of our volunteers in supporting us and used every opportunity to experience what we do by volunteering on surveys and at one of our farms during lambing season.
Seeing how myself and others around me have gained so much from volunteering led to me wanting to work within volunteering at the RSPB to develop the program to help others have a great experience like I have with the RSPB.
If you have been inspired to volunteer from our stories this week have a look at our volunteering opportunities to find out how you can help make a difference for nature: http://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/community-and-advice/volunteer/