I work as a Business Manager in a large environmental organisation, and a typical day for me is spent making decisions that help the organisation to run effectively, deliver against its aims and ensure that its employees have the equipment and resources they need to deliver great environment outcomes. 

I started volunteering for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust in July 2020. I had heard of the position through a friend and since I have links to the local area and am passionate about the natural environment I was eager to throw my hat in the ring and get involved. 

I had an initial chat with the Chief Executive Officer and put in an application for the role. The process was very smooth and I could feel the genuine passion from those I spoke to in the Trust. I knew from the outset this would be a great place to get involved and to make a difference! 

As a Board Trustee I support Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with the organisational running of the Trust. This includes attending regular Board meetings, providing advice and guidance to the CEO and senior leadership team and taking part in working groups which set and deliver the strategies that the Trust is working towards achieving. The most recent of these was looking at how to make the natural environment more accessible to those with protected characteristics who are typically underrepresented in the environment sector – a piece of work which is personally very important to me. Despite having joined during the coronavirus lockdown period I have felt very welcomed by the other Board Member volunteers and the employed members of the team. I’m learning quickly about the excellent work being done on the badger vaccination programme, the rewilding efforts in the county and the beautiful peregrine nesting at Derby Cathedral. 

I would thoroughly recommend volunteering to others who may be considering it. Apart from the feel good feeling of contributing to a cause which provides benefits locally, nationally or even internationally, you can gain some excellent personal benefits too. I’ve met new people, learned about processes and activities that I otherwise wouldn’t have had experience of and developed my own skill sets. I look forward to getting even more involved now that lockdown is beginning to lift and can’t wait to see the great things the Trust delivers in 2021 and beyond.

You can learn more about volunteering with the Trust here: https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/supportvolunteer/available-volunteer-areas