Volunteering

Volunteering allows you as an individual to really make a difference to the environment, and towards the targets and actions outlined in the Swindon BAP.  It is also an excellent way to gain work experience, make new friends, develop your personal and practical skills, enhance your CV and above all – have fun!

Getting involved…

Browse the list on the left to find something that’s right for you, or alternatively contact one of the following organisations to help you search for volunteering opportunities in your area.

Voluntary Action Swindon (VAS)

VAS works alongside and offers support to hundreds of voluntary organizations in and around Swindon.  Telephone (01793) 538398, email info@vas-swindon.org, or go to 1 John Street, Swindon, SN1 1RT.

Swindon Borough Council website

Go to the Swindon Borough Council website and search under libraries or community information for environmental groups in your area.

Wiltshire World Changers website

The Wiltshire World Changers website is bringing together people and communities from across Wiltshire who are taking action to look after the environment, tackle climate change and protect wildlife. On the website you can search a Green Map to find local projects, volunteering opportunities and nature reserves in your area.

Do It!

Search over 800 000 volunteering opportunities on this website by typing in your postcode, and apply online. Go the the Do-it website >

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

The Swindon e-news is a monthly e-mail update of events and tasks going on in Swindon.  You can view the latest e-news here.  You can also sign up to receive the Swindon e-news by email when it comes out each month, by using the email box at the bottom of this page.
Read Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s volunteer newsletter for Trust-wide news and opportunities. Fill in the email box at the bottom of this page if you'd like to be added to the mailing list.
Download the latest newsletter (1.1mb)

Alternatively you can find out all about volunteering with the Trust in Swindon by contacting the Swindon Volunteer Officer using the email box below. For opportunities in the rest of Wiltshire contact the Trust’s Head Office in Devizes on (01380) 725670.

Volunteering Opportunities in Swindon

Active Too

(Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Swindon office)
Active Too is a Home-Office funded project to recruit, train and support volunteers to be actively involved in helping to meet the targets of the Swindon BAP.  In addition to practical conservation tasks, there are volunteering opportunities in the office, surveying and monitoring in the field, helping to organise events, writing and publishing newsletters and helping to man stalls at fetes and festivals.

The practical tasks take place on Thursdays and at the weekends at various locations around Swindon.  Training and some expenses can be provided. 

View the latest Swindon e-news (coming soon) for latest task dates and other volunteering opportunities. If you would like any more information about volunteering for the Active Too Project contact the Swindon Volunteers Officer by email using the form below, or on (01793) 526228.

BTCV

BTCV runs a huge range of environmental volunteering programmes.  Some are targeted towards particular groups such as young people, some are open to all.  Training and conservation holidays are also available. Volunteers meet on Wednesdays and weekends.  The Swindon office can be contacted on (01793) 640247. Go the BTCV website>

BTCV’s Green Gyms benefit the local environment through practical conservation work, while also allowing you to increase your fitness levels and general sense of well being.  You may burn up to a third more calories after an hour of some Green Gym sessions than when doing a step aerobics class! In addition, regular participation in Green Gym sessions should make you stronger, and lessen the risk of illnesses such as osteoporosis.  Green Gyms are open to anyone of any ability, age, and level of fitness.  Typically each session starts with a gentle warm up, before moving onto individually designed activities that become more strenuous as fitness increases.  Contact Simon Penn at BTCV by using the email box at the bottom of the page, or go to the Green Gym website for more information.

FAB – Flowers and Butterflies

Swindon is being made more beautiful by the planting and seeding of wildflowers.  This is done on both regular (monthly weekends) and irregular schedules, and there is scope for volunteers to do this either close to their homes or at preferred sites.  The main site is the Haven at Cheney Manor behind Manor Garden Centre, where volunteers meet regularly on the second Sunday of each month, and currently on Wednesdays as well.  Volunteers are encouraged to learn how to help wildflowers by growing favourite species in their own gardens or on nearby communal land.  Seed and seedlings/plants are always given away free.  If you are interested contact John Ball by using the email box below.

Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal Trust – Swindon Branch Restoration Group

The aim of this group is to restore the Wilts and Berks canal and adjacent habitats.  The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month and work parties meet every Saturday. Volunteers are always needed. Contact Chris Toms for more information by using the email box below, or visit the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust website.

Peatmoor Community Woodland

GroupVolunteers manage a small but impressive ancient woodland in West Swindon.  The group meets from 10am – 1pm on the first Sunday of every month to carry out practical conservation work such as access, coppicing and hedgelaying.  Training is provided in practical woodland management techniques.  It is rough underfoot, and wheelchair access is difficult.  Contact Roger Ogle using the email box below for more information.

Quarry Wildlife Project

This group is an example of urban conservation as it sets out to establish and maintain a wildlife garden in an old quarry in the heart of Old Town.  It aims to create grassland, woodland, hedges, a pond and an orchard.  The surface is uneven but accessible for wheelchairs in parts.  Contact Steve Connolly for more information using the email box below.  The Old Quarry is located on Westlecot Road, SN1 1RE.

Wiltshire Wildlife Conservation Volunteers

This group meets on a Saturday and/or Sunday from 10.30am – 3.30pm from October to March, and some Wednesdays during the summer months.  A programme of conservation tasks is carried out during weekends and occasionally during the week.  Work includes using traditional tools and skills to maintain and improve wildlife habitats, tree planting, ponds, scrub clearing and coppicing.  No previous experience is needed, and help and training is provided.  Volunteers are needed for the larger organized tasks as well as smaller jobs such as keeping trails clear and maintaining seats.  They need to be able to cope with rough and often wet, muddy ground.
For more information go to the WWCV website >

Butterfly Conservation, Wiltshire Branch

This group caries out practical conservation work to benefit butterflies and help to monitor butterfly populations. Contact branch treasurer Phil Claridge (01793) 813937 or branch organizer Tim Hoare on (01225) 811214 for more information, or contact the Wiltshire Branch using the email box below.

Millennium Volunteers

This group is for young people who take part in voluntary activities such as sports coaching, environmental projects and helping various clubs and societies.  It is aimed at 16-25 year olds in Swindon and Wiltshire, and meets Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm at 1 St John Street, Swindon, SN1 1RT.  There is wheelchair access.  Contact Ben Rawlings or Lisa Clark on (01793) 430700 for more information.

Top Drawer Furniture Recycling Project

Top Drawer can be found at 1&2 Sussex Square, Somerville Road, Walcot, SN3 3QJ.  Telephone (01793) 536613.  Hours: 10am-4pm Monday-Friday depending on the availability of volunteers.
Top Drawer is Swindon’s main furniture re-use charity.  It provides good furniture and white goods at budget prices.  It is a not for profit project, staffed by volunteers and managed by Stonham Housing, a charity registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act.  It operates in association with Swindon Borough Council, Refurbiz, and Parks and E. Walcot Neighbourhood Renewal Co.  It is always in need of volunteers, and only operates due to the efforts of a small team of volunteers.  Why not visit the shop and see for yourself, or visit their website.

Swindon Children’s Scrapstore

The Scrapstore promotes recycling in the local community and asks businesses to donate their reusable waste for the use of community groups, schools and others.  It seeks anything clean and non-toxic that can be reused, from paper to textiles, wood off-cuts to nuts and bots.  It is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am-4pm and on Thursday from 11am-4pm and volunteers are required.  There is disabled access.  Visit the Scrapstore website, or contact Olivia McCann on 01793 513982 for more information.  The Scrapstore is located at Pinehurst Peoples Centre, Beech Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1JT.

Swindon Watch Group, Coate Water rangers Centre

The Swindon Watch Group runs wildlife and environment-related activities for children aged 7-13 years.  It is the junior wing of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.  The venue is at Coate Water Country Park, Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6AA, and is suitable for disabled people.  Contact Phil Dean on (01793) 490150.

Richmond Fellowship Employment and Training (RFET) and Therapeutic Work In Gardening (TWIGS)

– c/o Manor Garden Centre, Cheney Manor, SN2 2QJ
Gardening, horticulture and craft activities are provided in a supported working environment for people recovering from mental health problems.  Volunteers from the local community are required.  Please telephone first for visits due to restricted opening hours, and ask for Alan or Phyllida. Most areas of the site are accessible for all.  Telephone (01793) 523294 for more information.

Seven Fields Conservation Group

This group works to help secure the future of the Seven Fields Nature Reserve in north Swindon.  It holds bi-monthly committee meetings to ensure that the management plan is being followed and to discuss any issues relating to the reserve. Check out their website for more information.

Lower Shaw Farm

Volunteers usually take part in the monthly working weekends when they carry out repairs and maintenance around the farm, help in the organic garden and wildlife areas, and assist with the sheep, pigs and poultry.  Volunteers receive a meal and snacks in return for their help, and can stay overnight if they want to. Visit the Lower Shaw Farm website for more information.

Penhill Orchard Group

This is a healthy food project designed to help those in need in Penhill, particularly children.  In March 2003, the Penhill Orchard Group planted more than 100 apple trees to start the orchard on the old Leigh Road Allotments.  Many more fruit trees and bushes have been added since and there are now work parties most Saturdays from 10am-12 with tasks to suit most abilities.  Visit the Group’s website for more information or contact Melanie Robinson on (01793) 321487 for more information.

Swindon Volunteer Rangers

Why not help Swindon Services Ranger Team to preserve, conserve and manage Swindon's many parks and open spaces?  Volunteers assist full time staff either as part of the regular work programmes or on individual projects, events and activities.  However it’s not necessarily all manual work as rangers may get involved in helping to run, organize and deliver events such as guided walks or workshops. You can fill in an online application form on the Swindon Borough Council website and also download a programme of events from here.   

Lydiard Park Project

In 2005 Swindon Borough Council was awarded a £3 million award to launch a major restoration programme of this popular visitor destination.  The Lydiard Park Project is a four year programme, due for completion in Spring 2009.  Go the Lydiard Park Project website to download the latest Project newsletter and find out about volunteer opportunities coming up, and other ways to get involved!

Corporate volunteering

Contact Steve Pagett by using the email box below to find out about corporate volunteering opportunities at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

Biological recording

- Go the the bulletin board to find out what you have been recording in Swindon this month
- Visit the Featured Species pages of this website to find out which wildlife is out and about this month
- Go to the biological recording pages of this website to find out how to record the wildlife you've seen
- Link to the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre website

The Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC) provides a central reference point for environmental information on geology, habitats, sites and species.  Visit WSBRC website.

Sending in your wildlife records to the WSBRC or becoming a volunteer monitor, helps the WSBRC establish accurate records of the distribution of different species throughout Wiltshire and Swindon.  This is particularly important when it comes to BAP species, which by their very nature are rare or suffering population decline. By establishing their distribution, conservation efforts can be best targeted, and progress can be measured.

Volunteer monitoring schemes with the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre

Recording the wildlife and ecology of the same site over a number of years (monitoring) helps us to understand how that environment is changing. If enough sites are regularly monitored, we can begin to build up a picture of the changing face of Wiltshire. This is where you could make a real contribution! 
Visit the WSBRC website to find out more about:
- River monitoring
- Protected road verges
- Hedgerow recording
- Living churchyards and cemeteries
- County recorders
Alternatively contact the WSBRC using the email box below stating which scheme you are interested in.

Joining the Wroughton volunteer hedgerow survey scheme will help us towards meeting the Swindon BAP target of 30km of hedgerow surveyed (Hedgerow Action Plan, target HG2).  Water Vole Recovery Project

Water Vole Recovery Project
Another scheme you could join to help monitor Swindon’s wildlife, is the Water Vole Recovery Project at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.  After receiving training, volunteers go out in pairs to survey Swindon’s rivers and streams, looking for signs of this elusive creature.  If you are interested in becoming a water vole surveyor, the next set of training days will be held in April-time.  Contact the Swindon Volunteers Officer at the Wildlife Trust to put your name on the list by using the email box below.
By becoming a volunteer water vole surveyor, you can help towards Swindon BAP target: WL7 – Wetland target number 7 – To monitor water vole populations using a network of volunteers.

Email us about any of the opportunities above

Please make sure you state the opportunity you are interested in, or the person you wish to contact in the 'Subject' box.