At 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.

The role of the Forward Planning Volunteer will be to assist the Planning Team with a focus on screening forward planning consultations to focus on points relevant to ecology and biodiversity, mapping local plan allocations and also drafting guidance for our members, on how to respond to planning applications and forward planning consultations.

By assisting the planning team to respond to Local Plans, Neighbourhood Plans, Supplementary Planning documents (SPDs) and other forward planning consultations more efficiently, we hope will increase the amount of consultations we can respond to. In doing so, the planning team will be able to pro-actively contribute to promoting sustainable development in Yorkshire, by influencing planning policy from the earliest stage.

The Forward Planning Volunteer will be given access to the planning inbox and will be provided with forward planning consultations to screen; these will include but are not limited to Local Plans, Neighbourhood Plans, Management Plans for National Parks and other policy consultations that relate to Planning. These can be regional or national consultations and we can promise a broad spectrum of areas within planning will be covered; there will also be the opportunity for the Forward Planning Volunteer to explore their own interests through these volunteering activities.

The Forward Planning Volunteer will also have the opportunity map local plan allocations using QGIS, in order for the Planning Team to keep on top of the changing planning landscape across Yorkshire. These allocations include but are not limited to housing, renewable energy and nature conservation, GIS training will provided if necessary. Doing so will be a fantastic resource for the Planning Team, as it will aid us to assess the cumulative impacts of development across Yorkshire spatially and visually.  

The Volunteer will also be invited to produce guidance on responding to and engaging with forward planning consultations for YWT staff and members to refer to, to encourage people to engage with the planning system in their local areas. 

For more information please find below the full role description and to apply please send in a completed volunteering application to volunteering@ywt.org.uk