Volunteering

[Nightranger]

I may be preaching to the converted here but one of the best ways to get into conservation work is through volunteering. The Wildlife Trusts are particularly good in some areas but there are also opportunities at Wildfowl and Wetland Trust and RSPB local reserves. One of the questions or comments I have often heard in the past is how to get experience when fresh out of education but this also applies when unemployed. The key with education is not to watse time during school and college breaks - this is easier said than done . However to give an example, I have volunteered with the RSPB in my spare time away from work and I am currently helping out at Lancashire Wildlife Trust whilst unemployed. The main thing to remember is that you must tell your Job Centre about any voluntary work even though it should not affect your JSA. There are so many opportunities and you need not be restricted to plant-bashing although this is vital for most reserves to be able to handle the vast demands of habitat management.