Volunteering at Marwell

Marwell Wildlife has volunteers from all walks of life. They contribute in many ways, supporting our mission of connecting people with nature.

All our volunteers are highly valued and help make Marwell a special place.

Anyone who can get to the zoo and is aged 18 and over can apply to volunteer with us. Please note there are no volunteering opportunities with direct contact with the animals.

What's in it for you?

The opportunity to help us to connect people with nature, spread our conservation message and enhance our guest’s visits to the zoo, as well as:

• Gain valuable knowledge and experience
• Build confidence and meet new people
• Full training for your volunteer role
• Free entry for volunteers to the zoo
• Discounts in the zoo cafes and retail outlet when on duty
• Uniform
• Regular zoo updates

Find out what volunteer opportunities are currently available, and how to apply today.

Corporate Volunteer Days

How Corporate Volunteer Days can benefit your company and employees

Regardless of which department within the zoo you work with, we offer a unique setting for your Corporate Volunteer Day. We offer a day out from your usual workplace, in the fresh country air of Marwell’s grounds; keep your eyes peeled for some of our incredible animals.

Some of the benefits include:

• Enhance/build relationships within your team.
• Develop communication skills with your employees, especially with those who work in different departments/teams.
• Teach your team different skills.
• Build confidence when doing something outside of their comfort zone.
• Gain knowledge about Marwell and the work we do locally and globally.
• Develop a sense of achievement. Seeing an end product or knowing the ‘bigger picture’ of what the task will help with in the future.

How Corporate Volunteer groups benefit Marwell

Our Corporate Volunteer Days continue to grow and span across multiple sections within the zoo. Through providing your team’s time and skills Marwell benefits hugely for the following reasons:

• Tasks/projects – Having large groups in means essential work can be done around the zoo, in conjunction with the daily tasks which need completing. Without Corporate Volunteer groups it could take teams days or even weeks to complete additional tasks.
• Food –  We plant native species in and around the zoo which can eventually be used for food for the animals. This is done through cutting the branches, stripping leaves off and putting them in to browse barrels. These barrels are then frozen and can be used as food stores for the animals for winter, when fresh produce is harder to come by.
• Money – Not only through donations but through the work which is carried out. This could result in external companies not needing to be used.
• Community Links – Build links with local companies and individuals. We hope that your participation in one of our volunteer days will be the start of our partnership with you and your team
• Educate – Spark an interest/passion within the volunteers. Some will revisit as a guest or even volunteer at Marwell.

Want to know more?

If you and your colleagues are interested in helping out at Marwell this year, then please email our Corporate Volunteer Coordinator, Andy, at education@marwell.org.uk.

Availability is limited but we will try our best to accommodate all groups where we can.

Cancellations

We will contact you 6 weeks prior to your visit and ask you to confirm your attendance and any donation you have agreed. If you need to cancel your visit we request that you do this with as much notice as possible. Anything within the 6 week period makes it extremely difficult for us to get another group in within that time frame, so we thank you for your assistance with this.