Experienced carpenter? Avid gardener? Or just looking to put your spare time to good use? Consider joining our fantastic team of volunteers, without whom we simply couldn’t complete the work that we do on site and on our conservation projects!
We have a wide variety of volunteering opportunities available across the different teams here at the Trust.
Benefits include:
View our current volunteer opportunities below.
Know your way around a workshop? Want to support birds of prey by building homes for them?
We are looking for handy people experienced in workshop DIY to help us build a variety of nest boxes for our Raptor Nest Box Project and onsite native species. We are keen to hear from those with an established background in DIY, however, basic training can be provided.
Applicants must be able to work onsite at the Hawk Conservancy Trust, ideally for a minimum of once a month. There will be a combination of independent and team work. Successful volunteers will support our British Projects Manager, Research Assistant and existing volunteers in the construction of the nest boxes.
Spotting a Kestrel hovering above their prey is an incredible sight to see. But did you know by simply watching them, you could be supporting our conservation work?
If you spot a Kestrel wearing a blue ring on it’s legs around the British countryside, we’d like to know! This is part of our Kestrel Colour Ring Project which relies heavily on observations from the public in the South of England.
If you spot a Kestrel with a coloured ring, please record the unique code (located on the ring itself, using binoculars), an accurate location of where it was spotted and the date and time. Additional information about the sex of the bird is also useful (females have a brown head whilst males have a slate grey head).
If you spot any blue coloured rings on wild Kestrels, please get in touch.
We are currently not recruiting volunteers for walking our Kestrel transects, but do please check back soon!
Let us help support your research projects!
We are always happy to hear from researchers with suggestions for projects from colleges, universities as well as professional researchers.
We carry out research in the fields of conservation, behavioural and physiological research in birds of prey as well as social science topics, and our esteemed Conservation, Research and Education team will be happy to support your work.
Projects we have been involved in previously include measuring the strength and speed of Secretary Bird’s kick, studying the visual fields of African Harrier-Hawks, and the wellbeing benefits of being in close proximity to our birds.
Get in touch with your ideas!
If you’re a keen student looking to take up a career with animals, we can help you fly high! Each year we take on a number of students looking for work experience, aged 16 or over.
What happens after I submit an Application Form?
We will aim to be back in touch as soon as we can regarding your application. For certain roles, on selected dates throughout the year, we hold interviews for anyone wishing to volunteer with us. These are simply a discussion as we really just want to find out a bit more about you and the sorts of tasks you are interested in getting involved with.
If you are successful, you will be asked for a contribution (£10.00) towards a Disclosure and Barring Service (previously CRB) check. Once this check has been carried out, we will be thrilled to welcome you into our team as one of our valued volunteers.
Will I get to work with the birds that live at the Hawk Conservancy Trust?
Working directly with the birds of prey that call the Hawk Conservancy Trust home is very limited in our volunteering roles. If you are volunteering with our Bird Team, your main duties will be supporting the team in other areas, such as aviary maintenance and crowd control during flying displays.
When and how often can I volunteer?
Voluntary hours are dependent on the role, but roles on-site will normally be between 8.30am and 5:30pm although with some roles we will occasionally ask for some extra help at evening events. Volunteers working at the Trust must be available at least once a fortnight (ideally weekly). Some volunteers develop a regular, weekly schedule.
For work off-site, such as supporting our transects, we can offer some flexibility within set seasons. However, you will be required to do a minimum number of hours.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
The minimum age for volunteering at Trust is 18. There is no upper age limit to volunteering! If you are under 18 and would like to be involved in our work, we offer Work Placements for students looking for experience.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
Benefits of volunteering at the Trust are endless! Our volunteers get to spend plenty of time around nature – something that our research shows is fantastic for your wellbeing. Plus, you’ll be in fantastic company, both human and feathered! Volunteering is a brilliant opportunity to learn new skills, ones that could help bolster your CV. Plus, we make sure our volunteers are supplied a healthy amount of teas and coffees every day!
Our strong community of volunteer help us achieve our goal to conserve birds of prey and their habitats – so by supporting our work you’re supporting birds of prey in the UK and overseas too.
Will I be trained?
Every volunteer will receive an induction to their role and the team they are working with, but training will be dependent on the role you are coming into and the skills you already have. We will work on an individual basis to ensure each volunteer is working in a suitable role that suits their skillset, with opportunities to develop and learn new skills in order to widen the responsibilities you can take on. Each role will list what desirable skills are needed on the volunteering page of our website.
Are volunteers rewarded and recognised?
Yes! Each year we run a staff and volunteers evening to celebrate the whole team and thank everyone for their hard work. We also have yearly awards for volunteers who go above and beyond to make a difference.
What happens if I can no longer volunteer?
If you are no longer able to volunteer at the Trust, please let us know. If we do not hear anything from you for two months, you will automatically be removed from our volunteer pool.
