Community Walk Volunteer

Are you passionate about walking and inspiring others to get active, outdoors and connect with nature? We are creating a team to support setting up and delivering walks for the local community around the beautiful estate at Killerton.

In this role, you could:

• Build meaningful relationships within your community and contribute to a shared sense of well-being
• Develop your skills in leadership and group facilitation
• Enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of regular outdoor activity
• Receive training on walk leadership, health and safety, and ongoing support from the team
• Gain new knowledge on wildlife and local history as well as an opportunity to share your own
• Experience the satisfaction of helping others improve their well-being through nature and physical activity

You’d also be joining Europe’s largest conversation charity and the wider National Trust team proudly looking after 780 miles of coastline, over 250,000 hectares of land, over 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves (including lighthouses, villages, pubs and a gold mine!). We are a unique charity welcoming millions of people each year and with a vision to open up places for the benefit of everyone, for ever.

What's involved?

• Being a key part of our programme of guided walks at Killerton, whether leading a walk or helping to make sure it is safe and enjoyable. All walks have two volunteers
• Creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, encouraging participants to engage with the environment and with each other
• Being mindful of participants’ well-being
• Attending a training session in order to carry out all aspects of your role safely
• Assisting with planning appropriate routes for the group's needs based on the seasons and the weather
• Attending catch-up sessions if required and reviewing walk volunteer responsibilities
• You could also help explore future opportunities to expand and develop the Community Walks Programme with the possibility of offsite promotion and engagement with local groups
• Being part of a team that may need to adapt and change in response to local needs and National Trust priorities.
• We want all our volunteers to feel welcome and to have a positive experience when volunteering with us. So, all volunteers will be offered expenses for travel and be provided with the necessary induction, equipment and reasonable adjustments to do their role well and safely
• Have remote access to support, news and rotas via our volunteer website

This role will suit you if you are...

• Passionate about the outdoors with a love for nature and the benefits it brings to physical and mental health
• Available to volunteer on a regular or ad hoc basis
• Warm and friendly, and enjoy meeting new people
• Interested in supporting a wide variety of people and groups from the community
• Have your own experience of benefitting from the outdoors and are excited to share this
• Have experience of working with people who may be nervous in groups, encouraging friendships and relationship building
• Are happy to be outdoors in all weathers for up to 2 hours at a time
• Enthusiastic about your local environment and would like to be an ambassador for the National Trust's cause to look after special places for everyone, for ever
• Interested in developing this exciting new project
• Reasonably fit and healthy

All National Trust volunteers will be asked to:

• Respect and uphold the National Trust values whilst volunteering with us
• Be happy to complete the training required of all NT volunteers, and any role specific training
• Be comfortable to adhere to relevant policies and processes including safeguarding, health and safety, and equality and diversity