Volunteering with CPRE Bedfordshire

Curious about volunteering with CPRE Bedfordshire? Read on to find out about some of our current opportunities and how you can get involved.

Here at CPRE Bedfordshire, we know that lots of you want to make a real difference in your communities and care deeply about the wildlife and green spaces on your doorsteps. We also know that our name, CPRE Bedfordshire, the countryside charity, might conjure up images of getting your hands dirty with tree planting or standing in cold water taking part in river surveys. However, we have lots of volunteering opportunities that mean you can support our work whilst staying indoors! Volunteer roles can usually be done either from home or in our Bedford office, where we have a supply of tea, coffee and biscuits.

By volunteering with us you’ll be part of a friendly team of like-minded people. You’ll gain new skills and we’ll give you the training you may need for your volunteering role. You can join in with our social events, attend workshops and take part in the annual national CPRE conference.

We simply couldn’t do what we do without the support of our amazing volunteers.

Below we share some of our current opportunities, giving you a taste of what’s involved, the time commitment and where you’ll be volunteering. If any whet your appetite, the there’s a link at the end which will take you to our dedicated volunteering hub with lots more information about the role and an online application form.

If you’d rather start with an informal chat or if you’ve any questions about volunteering, then you can reach us on info@cprebeds.org.uk or 01234 880 624 (Mondays and Thursdays).

Secretary

What will I be doing?

As secretary you’ll ensure the effective administration of our Executive Committee and potentially provide advice on governance issues. The Committee meet every two months (virtually at the moment) and we need someone to plan meeting dates, send out notifications, minutes and other papers. At the meeting you will take minutes and ensure all actions and decisions are accurately recorded.

When and where?

The time commitment for this role will be about 3-4 hours a month but this may vary depending on our activities. At present meetings are via Zoom on Thursday evenings.

Want to know more?

Read more here.

Volunteer Helper

What will I be doing?

General helpers provide vital assistance with varied tasks. In this role you could get involved in a range of activities which will help with the day-to-day running of our charity, keep our members engaged, attract new supporters or support our busy office.

No two days are the same in our charity and our small team of staff often need support to get things done. This could be helping with mailings, meeting and greeting at workshops and events, researching information, inputting data…the list is endless so there could be something to match your current skills or help you learn new ones.

When and where?

This is a very flexible role and can be done from our office in Bedford or remotely on an ad-hoc or regular basis. Whatever suits you!

Want to know more?

Read more here. 

Membership contact

What will I be doing?

As our Membership contact you will have an essential role in communicating with members and encouraging new people to join and support our important work. Members are really important to us and we need to ensure they are well looked after. If you have excellent admin skills and enjoy communicating with different people then this could be the ideal role for you.

When and where?

The work is flexible and can be done remotely or from our office in Bedford. A minimum commitment of 2 hours a week is required but this will vary depending on our activities.

Want to know more?

Read more here. 

Assistant planning volunteer (Central Bedfordshire)

If you’re concerned about the increasing development in your local area, on greenbelt and in our countryside then you could make a difference by joining our planning team.

Planning volunteers engage with the local planning system and campaign on local planning issues to influence how Bedfordshire’s countryside and rural communities are developed.

This includes working with local communities, town and parish councils and local action groups to advise and support them when their local countryside and green spaces are under threat. We help them respond to planning applications and appeals to ensure they have the best chance of protecting their local environment.

What will I be doing?

As an assistant planning volunteer you will work alongside an experienced planning volunteer who will act as your mentor and will provide you with training and support to develop in your role. You’ll gain valuable skills and experience in the planning process for a range of different developments.

When and where?

This role is community based, with flexible hours.

Want to know more?

Read more here.