Thinking about working with wildlife?
Get a flavour of what the world of work is like, whilst making a real difference to your local environment.
Our work experience placements provide a great opportunity to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and decide whether a job in the conservation sector is for you.
Work Experience at Surrey Wildlife Trust
We offer a bespoke work experience programme aimed to give students the opportunity to gain a variety of skills and experience across different areas of the Trust’s work and get a taste of multiple career options within the conservation sector. Work experience students will be immersed in the Surrey Wildlife Trust team alongside fellow students on the programme for an enjoyable and inspiring week. They will gain skills and experience with different teams throughout the Trust, covering practical conservation, environmental education/outreach and wildlife surveying.
Dates
We will be running two programmes over the summer, each lasting one working week. Each programme has 8 places for students in years 10 – 13.
We are able to offer work experience placements on the following weeks:
- Monday 30th June – Friday 4th July
- Monday 14th July – Friday 18th July
Programme structure
An example schedule, subject to change, would be:
- Monday: induction and group introductions, followed by wildlife surveying and citizen science activities
- Tuesday: supporting our Education Team to run a Nature Discovery Day for primary school groups at our Education Centre e.g. pond dipping and minibeast hunting
- Wednesday: habitat management tasks on one of our reserves in the West of the county, e.g. invasive plant species removal
- Thursday: habitat management tasks on one of our reserves in the East of the county, e.g. maintaining fencing and infrastructure
- Friday: habitat management tasks on one of our reserves in Central Surrey, e.g. installing hibernaculums and stumperies
Days will usually run from 10am - 3pm.
Logistics
Support: You will be accompanied throughout the week by our work experience coordinator, as well as other staff members throughout the Trust who will provide safety briefings, instructions and guidance.
Transport: We are able to collect work experience students from a suitable train station and drive them the rest of the way to site in our minibus, or students can meet us on site. Please note, sites will be varied and spread throughout the county.
Facilities: Please note, most of our reserves don’t have access to toilet facilities on site.
What to bring and wear: You should wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty as well as suitable shoes (e.g. walking boots or wellies). You will need to bring along your own lunch but we will provide tea, coffee and biscuits. Please also ensure you are ready for any weather (waterproofs, suncream etc.).
How to apply
To apply for work experience at Surrey Wildlife Trust, please complete our application form and email it to Volunteers and Communities Officer, Sam, at volunteers@surreywt.org.uk by Monday 31st March.
Please note, spaces are limited, so we are unfortunately unable to guarantee a space for everyone who applies. We will be in touch shortly after the closing date to let you know if we are able to offer you a place.
Work experience enquiries
Email volunteers@surreywt.org.uk
Call 01483 795464