Advice
Meet some remarkable winter raptors
Get to know birds of prey with our guide to what you could see in winter.
November’s top nature spots…which ones have you seen?
Advice
All about volunteering
At the RSPB, there are so many ways you can volunteer and take action to help save nature. Here you’ll find lots of helpful information and real life stories about volunteering with the RSPB.
On this page
What do volunteers do?
The answer is anything and everything.
Volunteers are out on our nature reserves undertaking practical conservation work, they protect rare nest sites from egg thieves, they run social media accounts, help with administration, attend events, speak to the public, show people birds, take photos, organise filing and generally do whatever’s needed.
Almost 12,000 volunteers account for 85% of our workforce – and we couldn’t do our work without them. Between them, they do around a million hours of incredible work for us.
We're in a nature and climate emergency and volunteer work is needed more than ever.
"The RSPB has allowed me to contribute to conservation while still completing my studies. I am treated as a colleague by my peers and not as a child which I am so grateful for."
Ben – Volunteer assistant in the Education, Families and Youth team
Why volunteer with the RSPB?
Volunteering doesn’t just help the RSPB – it directly benefits you, too!
You’ll meet new people, have new experiences, and learn new skills. Volunteering could be a way of getting the skills and experience to launch a new career, or as a way of getting active. It could help you gain valuable experience to take into other areas of your life, or a way of dipping your toe in, to see if conservation is the sector for you.
Through volunteering with us, you’re not just joining an organisation, you’re joining a movement for nature, and working collaboratively towards a common cause.
It’s also a fun and valuable way to spend your time, whatever you end up doing.
What's it like to volunteer with the RSPB?
Here's what Colin Hawkins, Community Fundraising volunteer at The Lodge, Sandy has to say.
The outlook and attitude of the staff makes the RSPB a very easy organisation to volunteer for. Everyone is very friendly and accommodating. You are made to feel part of the team and trusted. You are given something you want to do and, in my experience, then left alone to deliver which is great.
Any time you can spare as an RSPB volunteer will be hugely appreciated and will help our vital work for birds, other wildlife and the environment.
Come and join us!
Are you a helper? An administrator? A social media manager? An organiser? A tidier? An outdoors person? A birder? A people person? A gardener? Do you have specilaist or niche skills? There are hundreds of ways to volunteer with us. Take a look at our current opportunities – and don’t forget, if you can’t find anything that suits you right now, talk to us and we’ll see if we can help.
Find an opportunity
Search for an opportunity near you and become part of something special.
There are many ways you can get involved with our work. You don't need to be an expert birdwatcher or even know a House Sparrow from a Starling. You don’t even have to be an RSPB member! Our volunteering roles can be tailored to your skills, interests and circumstances. Find a volunteering role near you or travel further afield with our residential opportunities.
Even more ways to get involved
For more information about volunteering
If you can’t find the sort of volunteering role you’re looking for from our listed opportunities, please do get in touch so we can help you find the right role for you!
- England – engvolunteers@rspb.org.uk
- Northern Ireland – nivolunteers@rspb.org.uk
- Scotland – scotvolunteers@rspb.org.uk
- Wales – cymruvolunteers@rspb.org.uk
- UKHQ volunteers – volunteers@rspb.org.uk
- Residential Volunteering – rvsbookings@rspb.org.uk
Celebrating our volunteers
We couldn’t do all we do for nature without volunteers. We’d like to say a big thank you, from all of us. Thank you for donating your time, skills and energy, and helping us save nature.
Are you a volunteer?
Find out more about Assemble, our website and App just for you. Assemble allows you to manage all your volunteering with the RSPB in one place – anytime, anywhere.
.jpg){kind=small}
