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Forest School Volunteer (Mid Essex)

Location:
Our Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve
We are looking for volunteers to help inspire the next generation of nature lovers at our Chigwell Meadows reservice during the Summer Holidays.

Position details

Commitment:

Thursday

Frequency:

Weekly

Our Forest School drop-off days are for children aged 5 and over.  The children play in small, isolated groups to explore our fabulous park for wildlife. Make shelters, climb trees and use natural materials for crafts. Our programme helps to build confidence, enhance self-esteem and develop social skills. Each group is led by an experienced Forest School leader.  

What do Forest School volunteers do?

You will be involved in a variety of activities with no two sessions the same including woodcraft activities and assisting with set-up and pack away. You will help to supervise children with support from EWT staff, directing them in the activities and ensuring they are safe and happy.

What do I need to be able to volunteer?

You don’t have to have a teaching qualification, just a desire to share your enjoyment of nature with a captive audience! You will need to be willing to work outside in all weathers.

Due to the nature of this volunteer position, individuals require an Enhanced Barred DBS check; we can only accept checks from other organisations if you are on the Update Service. Safeguarding training will be required prior to volunteering.

Some of our volunteer roles will require a good level of physical fitness to support children in an outdoor environment, on uneven ground. Please let us know if you have accessibility requirements.

Volunteers must be over the age of 18 in accordance with safeguarding requirements.

When?

Ideally, volunteers will be able to commit to one session per week on Thursday mornings during the school summer holidays.

Sign me up

Essex Wildlife Trust is committed to equal opportunities and maintaining a safe and secure environment for all children and young people. Therefore, the successful applicant for this position will be subject to pre-employment checks including a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note, it is an offence to apply for this position if barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. 

EDI Statement
Essex Wildlife Trust is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is welcome. As a conservation charity, we know how important diversity is, both in our natural world and amongst the people who choose to volunteer with us. We want everyone to feel valued and empowered to contribute to our vision of “A county rich in wildlife with people connected to nature”.

Supporting Documents

Apply for this Volunteering Opportunity
Thank you for your interest in wishing to volunteer at Essex Wildlife Trust. 

Please complete the following form as fully as possible. The information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Essex Wildlife Trust Privacy Notice & Data Protection Policy
Essex Wildlife Trust (“the Trust”) is a data controller and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (registration number: Z356243X). The Trust may process any personal data about you, including sensitive personal data, which will be used for the purposes of recruitment and volunteering, in accordance with the Trust’s Privacy Notice and Data Protection Policy essexwt.org.uk/privacy-policy. 

DBS Statament
Essex Wildlife Trust is committed to equal opportunities and maintaining a safe and secure environment for all children and young people. Therefore, the successful volunteer for this role will be subject to vetting checks including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with a barred list check.

Please note, you are unable to save and return to this form

___________________
 
As we sometimes send out marketing related content in our mailings, we cannot add anyone under the age of 18 to our mailing lists. If you are under 18, please ask permission to use a parent or responsible adults email address to receive communications about the wider work of the Trust.

If you are under 14, unfortunately we cannot accept volunteer applications for any opportunity from those age 13 or younger.

If you are interested in volunteering within our Early Years Nature Nursary, we cannot accept volunteer applications from those aged 17 or younger.
 
If yes, please provide details.
Are you eligible to volunteer in the UK?

If you are unsure whether you have the right to volunteer in the UK, we advise you to contact the UK Borders and Immigration Agency.

 
Please include any relevant skills, knowledge and experience.
 
We are committed to equal opportunities, the safeguarding, and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Therefore, if you accept this volutneer opportunity, there will be a requirement to process and obtain vetting checks including a criminal records check (Enhanced DBS check with a barred list check).

Having a criminal record is not necessary a barrier to volunteering. Please note, it is an offence to apply for this position if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. 
 
Do you have any convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings which are unspent or spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?
If successful in your application, are you happy for Essex Wildlife Trust to carry out an Enhanced DBS check with a barred list check?
Have you been the subject of any current or previous investigation or enquiry into the abuse of children or vulnerable adults or other inappropriate behaviour?
Have you lived outside the UK within the last ten years for more than three months?
Please include every country you have lived in including dates.
___________________

Thank you for completing this application.

What happens next

Your interest in this opportunity will be shared with the relevant Volunteer Manager for consideration. We invite prospective volunteers for a meet and greet with the Volunteer Manager and team to discuss the opportunity. Following this, if you would like to accept role, you will be asked to complete a volunteer registration form and complete any necessary training.

Your volunteering will commence once all vetting checks have been obtained and are satisfactory to us.

If you decide not to go ahead with a volunteer opportunity or are unsuccessful, your application will be deleted.

Declaration

If selected to volunteer with Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT), I will support the aims and values of the organisation. I will abide by the Volunteer Code of Conduct and all relevant policy and procedure. In my capacity as a volunteer, I will act as an ambassador in my community and safeguard the reputation of EWT. 

I understand in this role I have a responsibility to safeguard and to volunteer in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, and I am not barred from engaging in regulated activity with children. I understand that if my criminal record were to change during the course of my volunteering with EWT, I will notify my Volunteer Manager immediately. 

I understand that, if selected to volunteer, my details will be held on the EWT database in accordance with the EWT Privacy Policy and that this information will be used for purposes related to my volunteering only, unless I give my further consent. 

I understand that this is a voluntary agreement, not a legally binding contract nor an offer of employment, and that it may be cancelled at any time by either party.

I confirm that the information I have provided on this form is complete and accurate. I understand that any false statement or omission may disqualify me from volunteering. 

 

Opportunity type

Our Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve