Our Duke of Edinburgh Award pin badge volunteer Abby is working towards her gold award. Here she tells us about her about her volunteering experience with RSPB Scotland.
Volunteering with RSPB Scotland
I found out about the RSPB through a close friend. We were both looking for a charity to volunteer with for our Duke of Edinburgh awards. I decided to choose the ‘Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ because I wanted to help a charity that either supported animals, the environment, and/or strived for a greener planet and I found the perfect one that supports them all. I loved the mission of connecting people with nature, something they did for me.
Going into the role I didn’t know how I could contribute to such a massive organisation. I didn’t really know about the multiple ways I could volunteer until I had a meeting and was introduced to this amazing charity. Because I was volunteering for my Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award at the time, I took part in their pin badge volunteering. My role for RSPB Scotland is selling pin badges to raise as much money as possible for conservation work. The role is perfect for me because it fits into my school schedule perfectly. When I volunteered with other charities, I was always stuck in the back room sorting things out and cleaning up for a set time each week. The RSPB allowed me to be flexible with my time and visit the boxes twice a week to collect money, when it was most fitting to me. It also gave me the opportunity to go out into my local environment and see first-hand how I was helping, something I never really got to see elsewhere.
After a few months in the role, I have a new and greater relationship with nature. I have learned about the amazing conservation work and how they target and help the most vulnerable species that are threatened even more by our current climate crisis. Through the Green, Amber and Red International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) list I have been able to identify the birds that are most in danger of extinction. A species such as the ‘long-tailed duck’ that was before on the green list (a list that is the least critical group and regularly occurs in the UK) now falls under the red list as a species most at risk and is a conservation priority to the RSPB. This has definitely opened my eyes to the vast majority of animals that have become endangered or threatened by habitat decline and breeding decline and are in urgent need of our care. I heard about all the issues on the news on climate change, however I never fully understood how dangerous it had become until I looked at the stats. The current generation is trying its hardest to correct the past mistakes but we need to act fast or it will be for nothing and our wildlife will already be lost.
I love volunteering with the RSPB because it has given me the freedom and opportunity to connect with the public. I have been able to talk to many different people in different roles within the community. Being a pin badge seller has also improved my confidence by encouraging me to communicate with the customers and shop owners to allow the maximum business for the badges, by making sure I am offering a wide variety of different badges to fit all customers. The role has also taught me many valuable life skills that I will be able to adapt and use throughout my entire life. It has taught me how to handle money, responsibility and using my initiative. I have two favourite aspects of the role, my first is buying in the new pin badges. I love seeing the new ranges and what RSPB has to offer. My second is talking to the customers. I love seeing their views on RSPB and what they have learned about the charity through the badges. I also like hearing what they would like to see next with the badges or what they want more of!
I would definitely recommend volunteering with the RSPB, not only has it taught me valuable life skills, it has also given me an opportunity to fully connect with nature. It is important for me to be supporting the mission to better the planet for future generations to come.
Abby is now raising funds for the RSPB doing the 2.6 challenge. To support her amazing efforts, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/abbys-26-challenge2021