Education Volunteer

Do you have a passion for the environment and education? Are you interested in helping Wessex Rivers Trust deliver river education sessions?

Apply to be an Education Volunteer today!

Wessex Rivers Trust is looking for a group of dedicated volunteers to support the Education and Engagement team deliver sessions to school groups, home education groups, youth groups (e.g. scouting and guiding) and at public events.

Our volunteers assist the education staff with the delivery of the Trust’s River Education Programme to school groups across the Wessex area, along with home education groups and youth groups. These sessions include interactive assemblies, riverbank sessions and classroom sessions along with other activities, like wildlife walks and night walks. Volunteers assist the Education and Engagement Team at public events, educating a cross section of society about their local river. There are also opportunities for Education Volunteers to contribute to Wessex Rivers Trust communications work, such as blog posts, magazine articles, social media and event display interpretation boards.

Hours are to be determined by the Education Volunteer, considering their availability and their location in relation to interested schools and groups. Frequency will depend on bookings, there is likely to be a higher demand from March to October. Generally, the delivery of sessions occurs within these times: 

•  School groups – term time weekdays 9am – 3pm 
•  Uniform groups – term time weekdays 5pm – 9pm 
•  Events – weekends 10am – 4pm 

Duties: 

• Assisting with the preparation and setting up of activities. 
• Providing support to children during the activities, including helping them identify river invertebrates. 
• Cleaning river dipping equipment post session and packing away of equipment. 
• Supporting the Education and Engagement Team at community events to educate the public about their local river. 

Skills

Skills and Abilities 

• Ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences. 
• Genuine enthusiasm and passion for educating people about rivers and chalk streams across the Wessex area. 
• Willingness to work with children and young people whilst in the river. 

Why volunteer for Wessex RT? 

You will have the opportunity to learn more about chalk stream heritage and wildlife and the chance to champion the regions chalk streams to highlight the pressures they face, helping to safeguard them for future generations. There will be the opportunity to meet other local people with similar interests as well as be involved with enjoyable outdoor activities. 

Wessex Rivers Trust (Wessex RT) is an environmental charity, dedicated to the protection and conservation of rivers and chalk streams in the Wessex area. Wessex RT is part of the Rivers Trust movement; the umbrella organisation helping to protect and enhance most of the UK’s rivers. The Trust acknowledges that educating and engaging with a wide and diverse audience is essential to sustaining long-term interest in our local rivers and chalk streams and empowering local communities to take ownership of these precious habitats. To deliver on this ambition, the Trust offers an exciting education programme to all areas of Wessex. This includes The Test, The Itchen, The Meon and the streams that form part of these river catchments.