Volunteering at Marwell

Marwell Wildlife has over 150 volunteers from all walks of life with a shared interest in conservation, wildlife and the environment who provide valuable support in helping us fulfil our charitable objectives. Would you like the opportunity to inspire care for the natural world & share your passion for wildlife?

Public Engagement Volunteers 

Are you interested in helping us connect people with nature?  Our Public Engagement Team play a key role in helping us to  achieve this and are looking for more volunteers to support their team. 

Public Engagement Volunteers work with various artefacts relating to wildlife and conservation and use these together with games and information to engage and educate our guests. Whilst full training will be provided, a passion for nature and conservation is really important to us and we are looking for volunteers who can share and demonstrate this too.   Ideally you will also have  good communication/guest engagement skills to engage positively with people from all ages and backgrounds,  as well as a flexible approach and a warm welcoming manner. 

Duty times are flexible and shifts are available Monday-Sunday.  Given the training we provide for this particular volunteer role, ideally we would enjoy  a commitment from you to volunteer at least once a fortnight (although not essential). 

The closing date for applications for this volunteer role  is Friday 1 June.  Informal Interviews will be held  during week commencing 11 June.

If you are aged 18 and over, and believe  this is a possibility for you, please complete our application form and email the completed form to our team.

Volunteers to Support our Guest Surveys 

Would you like to volunteer with us, be out in the zoo at different locations, meeting  our guests and  asking about their day with us?  We are looking for  volunteers to support our guest surveys on any day Monday through to Sunday inclusive, between 1-5pm.

We would provide you with the appropriate training to undertake the guest surveys and record the feedback onto an iPad.  Please note this will involve being outside with guests for lengthy periods and in all weathers.

Ideally you will have some experience in customer service in a guest facing environment (but this is not essential).  What is essential to us is for you to demonstrate Marwell's Brand Values which are Warm, Welcoming, Wise and Contemporary.

If you are aged 18 and over, and believe  this is a possibility for you, please complete our application form and email the completed form to our team.

Volunteers to Support Our Tombola 

Offering the purchase of tombola tickets to our guests is a great way of connecting with people, and helping to raise vital funds too!  You would be selling tombola tickets, handing out prizes to the lucky winners, and cashing up at the end of the duty.    Duty times are from 12 noon to zoo close (zoo closing times vary from 4- 6pm) The tombola is open every weekend and weekdays during school holidays.

We will provide all the necessary training to carry out the role. This role is primarily outside; shelter, coats and sun cream are provided. 

Ideally you will have some experience in a guest facing environment and money handling (although not essential).  What is essential to us is for you to demonstrate our brand values of Warm, Welcoming, Wise and Contemporary. 

If you are aged 18 and over, and believe  this is a possibility for you, please complete our application form and email the completed form to our team.

Road and Rail Trains

A great volunteer opportunity has arisen to support the operation of our Road and Rail Trains.   You will assist with guarding on both of the trains, take money on the rail train, assist with children’s buggies on and off carriages,  and  drive the trains for short periods  to cover breaks. 

It’s especially important for you to have a warm and welcoming approach with all people.  You will also l need  a full clean driving licence (held for a minimum of 3 years), as well as general fitness to climb in and out of carriages, lift buggies above waist height and deploy ramps of wheelchair users. Previous experience in a public facing role and some cash handling experience would be ideal, although not essential, as full training will be given to undertake these duties. 

Duties are available every day of the week from 10am to park closing (park closing can vary between 4 – 6pm).  The road train runs all year, and rail train runs school holidays and weekends only.

If you are aged 18 and over, and believe  this is a possibility for you, please complete our application form and email the completed form to our team. 

What can you do? volunteers help us in many areas

Our volunteer activities include:

• Meeting and helping guests at the Information Kiosk
• Running the tombola in the park
• Providing guest information at various points throughout the park

NB: There are no volunteering opportunities working directly with animals.

What’s in it for you?

• An opportunity to gain valuable experience
• Access to the park and regular newsletters
• Discounts in the park whilst on duty
• Uniform and badge

What we value in our volunteers

The spirit of Marwell resides in its brand values of being warm, welcoming, wise and contemporary and we look for these qualities in the volunteers who support us.

As a Marwell volunteer we would like you to be:

• enthusiastic with a firm belief in Marwell’s aims and activities
• prepared to try a variety of duties and carry them out to the best of your ability
• able to offer good customer service at all times
• good at talking to members of the public.

Are there any restrictions?

• You’ll need to be 18 or over
• Able to get to the park
• Be able to stand for a length of time
• All volunteers must be capable of lone working after initial training

 To find out more please contact us for further information.    

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.