Join our voluntary trainee team, learn new skills and gain experience within a friendly environmental organisation.
Our voluntary trainee roles are open to anyone wishing to gain that all important 'hands on' experience to offer a competitive edge when applying for jobs.
These roles are usually part-time, so anything from 2-5 days a week, and can last from 6 - 12 months.
Our voluntary trainee roles are part of a wider rolling programme of Traineeships offered by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust – you will be part of a team of 20+ voluntary trainees and are offererd an internal programme of training, development and support as well as a competitive budget for training. We also offer a contribution towards daily out-of-pocket travel expenses to all our voluntary trainees.
To apply for one of the roles below please complete and return a Voluntary Trainee Application Form using the link here:-
Application Form
You will need to use the information given in the role description (bottom of the page) to demonstrate why you are a good candidate for a voluntary traineeship. Please make sure you state which role you are applying for and be sure to return the form by the deadline to volunteering@ywt.org.uk or post it to the address on the form
If you have any questions about voluntary traineeships please call us on 01904 659570.
Why not read some of our voluntary trainee profiles on the previous page to see for yourself what it's really like!
Farm and Grazing Voluntary Trainee- Appleton Mill Farm
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is developing its Living Landscapes vision at two farms in North Yorkshire and we would like to recruit a Farm and Grazing Voluntary Trainee to help with the varied tasks. Appleton Mill Farm is an established 230 acre beef and arable farm with 100 acres of woodland that holds many ancient woodland indicator flora such as bluebells, wild primrose and wood sorrel. Low Carr Farm is a 100 acre grassland farm where most of lambing takes place for our Hebridean sheep.
Part of the role will assist the Grazing Team to ensure the successful conservation grazing of over 30 Nature Reserves with cattle and sheep throughout the year. As a Farm and Grazing Voluntary Trainee you will assist in all aspects of farm conservation and management at both sites and play a key role in the conservation grazing plan. This is a very hands on role and if you have a loveof the outdoors, being around livestock and getting stuck into all manner of land management tasks then this is definately the role for you.
The role is for 3 days a week, for a duration of 12 months and comes with a competitive training budget and travel expenses. The role will be based at Appleton Mill Farm, near Pickering.
Accommodation at the farm is provided (utility bills included) with this role at Appleton Mill Farm. There could be occasions where you may have to provide an onsite presence, eg Farm Manager away, and a potential for unsociable hours in line with livestock/farm tasks.
Application deadline: Friday 28th July 9am
Interview Date: Tuesday 8th August at Appleton Mill Farm
Start Date: August/September 2017
Wolds and Holderness Wetlands Voluntary Trainee
This is an exciting new voluntary trainee role working some of the prettiest places in East Yorkshire; namely the Yorkshire Wolds and the River Hull corridor. The Wolds and the Holderness area are some of Yorkshire best kept wildlife secrets; there’s undulating green hills and crystal clear chalk streams that are home to lots of interesting plant life, invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have been working in the area for a number of years but we have secured further funding for the restoration of one the Wolds forgotten features, the historic Dew Ponds.
We’re looking for a passionate and enthusiastic person to join the team and help deliver this fantastic new project. As well as helping to restore the Dew ponds, you will also be involved with our Living Landscape work along the River Hull and will assist with practical conservation tasks, education activities, species and habitat surveying and research.
The voluntary trainee will gain a wide range of experience in pond, river & wetland restoration techniques, mapping, research, species and habitat surveying as well as planning and delivering a wide variety of events including workshops, educational activities and practical volunteer workdays.
The role is for 3 days a week, for a duration of 12 months and comes with a competitive training budget and travel expenses. The role will be based at our York headquarters.
Application deadline: Monday 17th July 9am
Interview Date: Monday 31st July in York
Start Date: Early September 2017
Aire and Calder Catchment Project Voluntary Trainee
The Aire and Calder Catchment Partnership works to improve water quality and biodiversity across the catchment by engaging local communities to champion their waterways. This 12 month project will support volunteer catchment champions who will be inspiring people to learn more about the catchment and how they can improve and protect their local area.
We are looking for a 9 month Voluntary Trainee to support the delivery of the project. The Voluntary Trainee will be working with the Project Officer to plan and deliver workshops which will enable community groups to write funding bids, learning how to arrange and deliver community consultations. As part of this team, and with support, the Voluntary Trainee will also attend meetings with partners and key stakeholders which will develop the projects aims and outcomes. Social media will be a large part of this role as the project aims to increase engagement through local social media channels to raise awareness of water quality and actions that can be taken by communities.
This role offers the opportuntity to develop skills in community engagement, partnership working and stakeholder relationships as well as building upon social media experience and volunteer management. If you are an organised people person, have excellent IT skills and a passion for rivers and waterways please get in touch!
This role is for 9 months, for 3-4 days a week and comes with a competitive training budget and travel expenses and based at our Stirley Community Farm near Huddersfield.
Closing date: 9am Wednesday 14th June 2017
Interview date: Tuesday 20th June 2017
Start date: 26th June 2017 or soon after
Living Seas Centre Voluntary Trainee- Flamborough
The Living Seas team at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is going from strength to strength with Living Seas really moving up the conservation agenda. We have now entered our 5th year at the Living Seas Centre in Flamborough and our Discovery Room is proving popular destination. From the Living Seas Centre we run an extensive programme of public awareness events and formal schools education visits, that enthuse and inspire people about our marine enviroment.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed voluntary trainee to help support our team and gain valuable experience through engaging with visitors in the Living Seas Centre, running public events, assisting with and delivering schools education sessions, assisting with our project work and promoting our wider Trust messages within the Living Seas work stream. If you would like to share your passion about our Living Seas with others then we would like you to apply for this role.
This role is for 6-12 months, for 3 days a weekwith some weekend days and comes with a competitive training budget and travel expenses and based in Flamborough.
Closing date: Monday 12th June 2017 9am
Interview date: Tuesday 20th June 2017
To start: July 2017
North Cave Wetlands Voluntary Trainee
We are looking for a trainee to assist our Reserves Programme Manager based in Hull to carry out practical conservation tasks, lead volunteer groups and assist with general reserve management work at North Cave Wetlands. If you would like to gain first-hand experience in practical conservation techniques and learn from our skilled and knowledgeable staff this role is perfect!
The role will include practical and office based tasks, with the majority of time spent in the field, gaining experience in habitat management activities – this includes for example, scrub clearance, wetland creation, invasive species removal, fence and gate repairs, clearance operations, ditch works, livestock management and a variety of other tasks.
If you love being outdoors and in the thick of nature and like working as part or a team, we'd love to hear from you. This role is for 12 months, 2-3 days a week and comes with a competitive training budget and travel expenses. The role be predominantly reserve work at North Cave Wetlands with some office working in Hull.
Closing date: Friday 30th June 9am
Interview Date: Tuesday 18th July in York
Start Date: August 2017
Spurn Reserve Voluntary Trainee
We’re looking for a new Voluntary Trainee to join the team at Spurn National Nature Reserve; which is one of Yorkshire's most interesting and ever changing wildlife and heritage sites. Spurn’s unique landscape is a draw to many visitors and never fails to inspire others about the importance of Living Landscapes and Living Seas. As a Spurn Reserve Voluntary Trainee you will gain a wide range of skills and knowledge centred around reserve management, visitor engagement and running a programme of events at a Gateway site.
We've just been given planning permission to build a new visitor centre, which will be completed by the end of 2017. The new centre will be a fantastic addition to the the newly refurbished Lighthouse that opened last year. This is an amazing opportunity to be part of the exciting developments at Spurn and help make it an exceptional place to visit. You will be involved in helping to plan and deliver practical reserve management; be part of the visitor experience by welcoming visitors on site; taking admissions and providing essential information; helping out in the cafe and retail areas and also assisting with the varied and interesting programme of events that we have at Spurn. The variety of tasks you will be able to take part in should provide a good mix of skills for those who wish to work in the conservation sector.
The role is for 6-12 months, depending on what candidates prefers and will be 3 days a week, with some potential weekend availability. This will ideally be a residential placement with accommodation provided close to the reserve/onsite with all utility bills paid. The role comes with a competitive training budget and access to our internal training plan.