Guest blog by Sharyn Hailer, RSPB Cymru Volunteer I volunteer in the RSPB Wales Headquarters office in Cardiff, where I assist Volunteer Development Officer, Emma Roberts, with the management of our volunteer database and other administrative tasks. Having previously worked as a conservation biologist and zookeeper in the US, I was keen to work with RSPB Cymru because I believe strongly in their work and wanted to support an organisation whose cause I felt passionate about. I also wanted to volunteer because I was new to the area and looking for work, and I hoped that volunteering would allow me to meet people in the conservation community add that extra bit of experience to my CV to keep me busy while job searching.
Left image: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com), Right image: Rahul Thanki (rspb-images.com)
From my very first day in the office, I was instantly made to feel welcome, appreciated and part of the team. It’s such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, where I am invited to attend training, regular team meetings and – also very important - coffee hours for a delicious piece of cake! After spending much of my career doing hands-on conservation work, it’s also fun to be able to see some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes on at RSPB Cymru – from public affairs, conservation policy, volunteer management, event planning and big-picture project management.
But most of all, I enjoy the feeling that I am helping to make someone else’s workload that little bit lighter with every task I can accomplish – whether it’s database management or muddy boots, it’s all in support of a great organisation with a worthwhile cause of saving our wonderful wildlife.