# Guide In The Hide Volunteer

**Company**: WWT
**Location**: London
**Category**: Other
**Industry**: Conservation

**Apply**: https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/965/guide-in-the-hide-volunteer.html?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_367307e1-d48

## Description

We are seeking Guide In The Hide Volunteers at WWT London to provide a warm and friendly welcome to our hides for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. As a Guide In The Hide Volunteer, you will play a crucial role in engaging visitors and communities with wetlands.

The role involves:

- Providing a warm welcome to all visitors coming into the reserve hides

- Talking to visitors about what they can see from the hide

- Helping visitors to locate, observe, and identify nearby species of interest

- Assisting visitors to use optical equipment and identification guidebooks

- Informing visitors of events, talks, and activities at the site which may be of interest

- Familiarising yourself with the latest wildlife sightings around the reserve so you can inform our visitors what they might see during their visit

- Updating the hide sightings board and letting the reserve and welcome team know about any exciting sightings

- Tidying the hide, including cleaning surfaces, light sweeping of floors and windowsills, litter picking, putting away chairs, organising learning materials & equipment, reporting damage, and dusting rafters to remove cobwebs

- Topping up bird feeders as appropriate (Headley Hide only)

- Familiarising yourself with WWT’s wider conservation work and key conservation messages

As a volunteer, you will receive a very warm welcome, full induction & training, and be provided with any necessary equipment, uniforms, and anything else needed to thrive in your role.

This role would suit you if:

- You have a strong basic knowledge of UK bird species (additional training & support for species identification can be provided)

- You feel confident in talking to and engaging with members of the public

- You can adapt your communication style to suit your audience, particularly having a friendly and approachable manner with our first-time and younger visitors

- You love birding and want to share your enthusiasm with others

- You are friendly and approachable with a positive attitude

- You have an interest in and enthusiasm for the work of WWT

- You enjoy working as part of a team of staff and volunteers

- You are willing to spend prolonged periods of time in a potentially cold space (coats will be provided)

We are looking for volunteers who are available to help out at least 2 full shifts (or 4 half shifts) a month on a set day (Thursdays & Sundays in particular). Full day shifts run from 9.30am-3pm with a 15-minute morning break and 60-minute lunch break at 12.30pm. Half day shifts run from 9.30am-1pm with a 15-minute morning break.

## Skills

### Required
- bird identification
- communication
- public engagement

### Nice to have
- UK bird species knowledge
- birding enthusiasm

---

Source: [Apply at vacancies.wwt.org.uk](https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/965/guide-in-the-hide-volunteer.html?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply)