Youth Group Main Leader (Sandy Wildlife Explorers)

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At the RSPB we are passionate about young people and about nature. Our youth groups have the potential to play a really important role in local communities, offering young people regular opportunities to get to know the wild places close to them and to be supported by enthusiastic adult volunteers. Our youth groups are fun and sociable, keeping young people engaged and interested whilst enabling them to discover and learn new things that will ultimately empower them to help save nature. The Wildlife Explorer Groups are for 8 to 12 year olds.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to be an inspiring leader, working alongside a team of assistant and junior leaders to run activities that encourage young people to explore and develop a passion for nature.

As a Youth Group Main Leader you will be:

  • Designing, planning and delivering a programme of monthly outdoor activities and meetings that give young people opportunities to connect with and take and for nature through site visits, practical conservation tasks and outdoor learning.   
  • Coordinating and leading a team of assistant and junior leaders to help run the group, agreeing roles for each team members to ensure meetings are planned and delivered safely and successfully.
  • Ensuring your groups is promoted within the local community and on social media to raise awareness and grow group membership
  • Ensuring all meetings are risk assessed and Safeguarding and first aid standards are met including attending relevant training.
  • Liaising with site owners at meeting venues and ensuring the group has access to equipment and resources as necessary.
  • Responsibility for ensuring records of attendance are kept that adhere to GDPR regulations, and ensuring the group’s finances are managed responsibly.
  • Regularly inviting feedback from leaders and group members to evaluate the success of group meetings and implementing improvements as required.
  • Communicating with parents, members of your group and other youth group leaders.
  • Working with your Country Youth Group Contact to ensure the smooth running of the group.

Leaders usually spend two to five hours per month outside of meetings on the role depending on how the responsibilities are shared within the group leaders and what activities are planned

If you have skills and experience in the following areas it would be helpful.

Essential:

  • Experience of working with young people, creating and leading exciting activities based on the natural world.
  • Excellent communication skills with people of all ages including young people, other volunteers and parents.
  • Ability to lead, motivate and organise people and work as a team to share tasks and responsibilities.
  • Be self-motivated and able to show initiative.
  • A willingness to learn and to undertake training as needed for the role.
  • Ability to be an excellent representative of the RSPB within the local community.
  • You will also need access to the internet and have an email address for communication.

It would be desirable (though not essential) if you also have the following:

  • Bags of experience and a natural ability for communicating your passion for nature to young people. You don’t need to be a wildlife expert though - you will learn a lot as you go along.
  • Experience of writing and completing risk assessments.
  • Knowledge of budget management.
  • Understanding of GDPR guidelines and experience of storing data and documents in line with these, although full training can be provided.
  • Experience of induction and leading teams of volunteers.
  • Experience of promoting events or activities.
  • An understanding of current Safeguarding expectations and information, although full training will be provided.

Don't worry if you don't have the desirable skills currently as we are here to support you to build your skills as part of your ongoing training and development in this role.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to make use of your skills and experiences, as well as your passion for nature, whilst ensuring the Youth Group flourishes. You will also be able to meet the RSPB's aim to put young people at the heart of our mission to save nature. You will help to connect them to nature and create the leaders of the future. Not only this, but you will have opportunity to further develop your own skills and experiences, for example, leadership, teamwork and organisation skills. You will also have access to the RSPB suite of training packages to support your personal development and we will be available to support you along the way. You will be part of the wider RSPB youth group network and will have the opportunity to meet with and link up with youth group volunteers across the UK as well as support from local contacts such as a reserve, local adult group or regional youth group volunteer.

An induction and relevant training will be provided and will be able to offer you ongoing support to further develop the skills you need for this role. Volunteer cards are issued to those who give 50 hours that gives you a range of discounts plus free entry to RSPB nature reserves. Why not get in touch and see how you would fit in the role?