Guest blog by Emma Roberts, RSPB Cymru Volunteer Development OfficerJust recently I was trying to explain to my 8 year old what exactly my role is in work and it was more difficult than I expected. We started our conversation with what the RSPB does - he loves nature and being outside so understands the need to ensure that nature has a home. He had loads of examples of how we can help create a safe haven for nature in our garden and in grandpa’s allotment, where we have a pond, wood piles for bugs and recently made some solitary bee hives.
I then moved on to explain what I do for conservation, and in simple terms I look after our volunteering. ‘But what is a volunteer’ was the next question. I had to explain that nature has lots of people who want to help the RSPB to defend nature in whatever way they can, using whatever skills they have. This is not their job; we do not pay them - the inevitable ‘why’ was his response (we’re negotiating pocket money for chores as a family, so something for nothing is novel!).
Left: James, aged 8, Right: playing in TAPE
In a nutshell, we have a whole load of volunteers who want to help the RSPB in order to gain skills and experience as a way to gain first career step, or increasingly a career change. I look around my office today and at least 8 of our Wales HQ team volunteered with the RSPB before becoming members of staff. I am like a proud parent when any of our volunteers gets a paid position with us or another organisation in the sector.
Other volunteers are pleased to be able to contribute to conservation, to use their skills in a way that is fulfilling; there is a sense of satisfaction and motivation that comes from showing people a black grouse lek, clearing a habitat of a non-native species or creating an art installation from sticky Tape in Cardiff’s Bute Park. Most importantly our volunteers enjoy their time with us, we are a friendly, social bunch and they feel that they’re valued.
Whatever their reasons and whatever our volunteers are doing – I and RSPB Cymru are truly grateful and there is no doubt in my mind that we would not achieve our successes without the contribution we receive from our volunteer task force. A big thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who continue to support us, from the odd hour here or there to the hundreds of hours, every minute makes a difference. James, aged 8, is also suitably impressed and wants to know when he can start!
To find out more about how you can volunteer please click here. Enjoying the great outdoors on a family walk