At the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust we want to significantly enhance our impact for nature. Our ambitions are high and we must do what we can to reverse the decline of wildlife in Yorkshire for the generations to come. Much of our work is delivered by dedicated and skilled volunteers, who are some of our most knowledgeable people locally.

Our Planning Team respond to planning applications and local plan consultations to work to ensure that the decisions of Yorkshire’s planning systems positively contribute to the recovery of nature.  

The scale of development in Yorkshire means that the Planning Team has to be selective in which consultations we respond to, to ensure we are using our time and expertise effectively. The role of the Planning Team Support Volunteer will be to assist the Planning Advocate and Planning Ecologist to identify the priority consultations support us in producing strong and impactful submissions which influence development in Yorkshire.

Identifying and responding to planning applications that pose a potential threat to wildlife is vital to protecting Yorkshire’s wild spaces and providing a basis for nature to recover.  The individual will be organised and methodical and be able to communicate well with the Planning Team.  This role is invaluable to the Trust and will enable us to have maximum impact in the planning system and make a real difference for Yorkshire’s nature.

You will be volunteering within the Planning Team to help us identify which consultations to respond to, undertaking preliminary checks of those applications to check that ecological information has been submitted, and following up on applications that we have responded to in order to monitor our influence.

Supported by our Planning Team, the key aspects of the role are as follows:

• Logging and prioritising consultations received in accordance with an existing scoring system.
• Checking lists issued by Local Authorities to identify planning applications we may want to comment on.
• Undertaking initial review of applications scoring highly to check is the required ecological reports have been submitted.
• Undertaking checks on applications we have responded to, in order to check and record the outcomes.
• Collating information on the status of Local Plans from Local Authority websites.
• Coordinating with the Data and Evidence team to map application boundaries of those applications we respond to.

We're looking for someone with:

• Excellent organisation skills and ability to work in a methodical way.
• Motivated and dedicated to ensuring data input is accurate.
• Good communicator.
• Efficient at using Excel and email.
• The role would involve some use of GIS (QGIS) - existing experience would be valuable but not essential.  Full in-house training can be provided
• Existing knowledge of the planning system would be helpful but not essential as a full induction will be provided
• Access to a computer or laptop at home with good internet connection would be useful, but not essential

In return we can offer you:

• Experience and knowledge in the processes and procedures of the UK planning system
• Dedicated in-house induction on the planning process
• Learn how to use GIS, a valuable skill which will look great on your CV
• Be part of a small, friendly team who are passionate about protecting our wild landscapes
• Access to our free internal volunteer training programme delivered by our expert staff and volunteers, including invitations to special volunteering networking events.

To find out more and apply, please read the full Volunteer Role Description below and send your completed volunteer application form to volunteering@ywt.org.uk