Job Title: Volunteer Trainee Road Verge Warden

VOLUNTEER ROLE OPPORTUNITY

Volunteer Trainee Road Verge Warden Job title: Volunteer Trainee Road Verge Warden (11 month post) based at Tyland Barn Function: Assisting the RNR Project Officer in the maintenance and management of RNRs. Responsible to: Connectivity Programme Manager/RNR Project Officer

Kent Wildlife Trust Kent Wildlife Trust is one of the largest of the 47 Wildlife Trusts, which together make up the Wildlife Trusts’ Partnership. We are supported by our 31,000 members and governed as a member-led charity. We have the simple aim of protecting Kent’s wildlife for the future. To this end, we own or manage 64 nature reserves covering 7,500 acres; we campaign and lobby politicians, decision makers and landowners to ensure site protection and good habitat management; and we run a full programme of education work with schools, colleges and adult groups. The Trust also has five Visitor Centres.

The Trust operates from its headquarters at Tyland Barn, just north of Maidstone. The 75 professional and support staff work within five sections of Reserves; Conservation, Policy, & Evidence; People Engagement; Marketing & Membership and Finance & Support Services

Visit our website to see the range of our activities – www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Role Outline

The Kent and Medway Road Verge Project, established in 1994, works to identify, protect and manage road verges which contain threatened habitats or wildlife. These are marked by special signs. The Project is a partnership between Kent Highways Services (KHS) and Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT).

We are looking for someone to help our RNR Project Officer assisting with the following:

1. General RNR management & administration 2. Practical management on selected RNRs 3. Working with/leading volunteers 4. Assisting with Parish Council and local community liaison, surveys and monitoring 5. Publicity and promotion of the Trust and its work 6. Health and safety

Training and certification will be given in specific skills where this is required. The trainee will be offered a combination of training tailored to their needs, these may include:

 Certificate of Competence in Herbicide application.  First Aid certificate.  Work Party Leadership.  Brushcutter operation.  Chainsaw & brushcutter courses  Species Identification  Chapter 8 course unit 2 and unit 10

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1 Principal Duties

1. General Roadside Nature Reserves management: a. Assisting with and helping to organise site surveys and monitoring. b. Maintaining good relations and raising levels of environmental awareness with the general public, Trust members, and neighbours. c. Ensuring that the highest standards of health and safety practice and monitoring are maintained at all times.

2. Practical management a. Carrying out habitat and estate management work on reserves in line with management plans. b. Using and supervising the use of hand tools. c. Using, maintaining and supervising the use of power tools. d. Practical management will include, scrub clearance, and mechanical/chemical control of pest species. e. Replacing RNR signs and posts around the county

3. Working with volunteers a. Carrying out and leading tasks on reserves both during the week and occasionally at weekends.

4. Surveys and monitoring a. Helping to carry out survey and monitoring work on RNRs. This may include fixed point photography and monitoring BAP target species. b. Recording volunteer time and work as appropriate. c. Using LWS rapid assessment forms to assess quality of selected RNRs.

5. Publicity and promotion of the Trust and its work a. Liaising with and maintaining good relations with reserve visitors and the public generally. b. Promoting the work of Kent Wildlife Trust by assisting with special events on reserves. c. KWT aims actively to enhance, wherever possible, the opportunities for people with disabilities to experience, understand and enjoy the natural environment. All staff share the responsibility in achieving this. Further information is available from the Head of People and Wildlife.

6. Health and safety a. Ensuring that all works by volunteers are in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

2 Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Qualifications  Currently undertaking or recently completed an HND/degree in countryside management or equivalent OR having a proven interest in the environment and actively seeking employment in this field.

Essential  Proven interest in the environment  Full clean driving licence  Basic IT skills

Desirable  Experience of practical habitat management work  D1 entitlement on driving licence.  Some experience in volunteering/leading volunteers

Personal Qualities  A mature approach and the ability to communicate effectively with the public.  An ability to work on your own initiative.  A willingness to undertake outdoor work in all weather conditions.  Understanding of, and sympathy with, the Trust’s role as a conservation body would be very helpful. Experience in the following areas is desirable, and you must be able to demonstrate recent practical experience in at least one.

3 Other Considerations

1. The post is unsalaried but there is a budget for travelling expenses and training. 2. We hope that you will usually be able to volunteer with us for at least three days per week so that we can each get the most from the volunteering experience. However, we are flexible about when you work (within the constraints of drawing up a rota) so please let us know if you would prefer a different arrangement. 3. We hope the role to stretch over 11 month so that we can each get the most from the volunteering experience and to ensure completion of your training program provided. 4. No person shall be treated less favourably than another on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, colour, age or disability. 5. Kent Wildlife Trust is an equal opportunities employer and applicants for volunteer roles shall be short-listed for interview and appointed purely on the grounds of their suitability for the role as laid out in the advertised role description (subject to 6 below). 6. Appointment is conditional upon receipt of satisfactory references. 7. KWT aims actively to enhance, wherever possible, the opportunities for people with disabilities to experience, understand and enjoy the natural environment. All staff share the responsibility in achieving this. Further information is available from the Head of People and Wildlife 8. Under Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, all staff have a legal responsibility to: a. take all reasonable care of their health and safety while at work; b. ensure as far as reasonably practicable the safety of other persons, whether other employees or members of the public, who may be adversely affected by their own actions c. co-operate with the Trust to enable it to discharge its obligations satisfactorily

4 Expenses

We will reimburse certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with your volunteering for us. Details of these expenses and how to claim them are set out below:

When claiming mileage expenses the volunteer rate of 25p per mile will apply. Trainees may claim for their travel to and from work. A ₤100 per month cap will apply unless agreed otherwise with the Section Head. The cost of journeys made on Trust business during the working day will not be included in the ₤100 cap. The above is to ensure that we have the maximum budget available to spend on your training program.

5 Procedure for Applicants

Applications

Applicants should read the Guidance Notes carefully before completing the application form – clearly and in black ink please (for copying purposes). Please DO NOT send your CV.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Paul Hadaway (Connectivity Programme Manager, (Conservation, Policy & Evidence) on 01622 357860.

For an application pack please visit our website www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk or contact Dot Hughes on 01622 662012 Email: [email protected]

The closing date for applications is mid-day on Thursday 21 st August

Interviews

Interviews will be held on Monday 7 th September.

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