Youth Representative (Voluntary Role)

BTO Youth Representative
Remote
Voluntary Role

Being a Youth Representative looks different to everyone, because it will depend on where you are based, how much time you can commit, and what your interests are. Typically Youth Representatives attend online meetings and training, organise events (both online and in-person), and join the BTO staff team for events and activities. 

We are looking for motivated young people who want to join a community and make a difference. You should apply if you:

• Are between 16 and 24 years old
• Speak and understand English well
• Are passionate about nature (you don’t need to know everything about birds!)
• Are able to organise at least two events per year, in-person or online, with the support of our staff and fellow youth volunteers
• Are interested in working collaboratively with other organisations within and outside the sector
• Are open-minded and respectful of others, even if they have different experiences, or think differently, to you
• Want to help other young people find their connection with nature 
• Are available to join virtual meetings on Zoom at least once every 6 weeks - or more often depending on working group involvements (we can provide a tablet if you don’t have access to a computer) - and in-person meetings at least once a year (all expenses will be covered).

You can read the full role description by clicking on the application pack under 'supporting documents' in the job details on our careers page. Instructions on how to apply are on page 9. Please contact us if you are not sure if you meet all the criteria for the role and would like to discuss the role in more detail.

• The link to apply can be found here.

WHAT DOES BTO DO?
BTO helps to secure the future for birds and nature, using our science, monitoring and data to inform good environmental decisions, inspiring others with the wonder of birds and empowering them to work with us. Our priority is to make a positive impact for birds, using our strong and objective science in partnership with others. We strive to work sustainably and to welcome everyone.

Our values are:
We are evidence-led, inclusive, collaborative and empowering.
Birds Science People; it is a powerful combination – will you be part of it?

WHAT WE OFFER
This is a volunteer position, which means there is no pay for this work however we will:

• Cover all your expenses, including meals, transport, accommodation, and training.
• Offer you extensive training to develop a wide range of transferable skills, such as networking, public speaking, planning events, leadership and much more.
• Opportunities to represent BTO at events, such as conferences, exhibitions, fairs, university events etc.
• Give you 1:1 support; ranging from finding opportunities in areas you are interested in, to helping with applying for jobs.
• Provide references for you on job or university applications.
• Facilitate connections with BTO staff and our partners, giving you
• access to a wide network of people, jobs and other opportunities in
• conservation.
• Free access to BTO training courses

 
BTO Youth's vision for the future is that of “A diverse, vibrant community of young birders supported by BTO, with accessible, youth-led opportunities inspiring young people to engage with nature and science.”

Closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 9th November 11:59pm and Interviews will be held on Zoom via appointment from 24th November to the 5th December.

If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@bto.org.
 

We want to make sure everyone has the chance to get involved, particularly people who aren’t currently well-represented in conservation. If you identify as being from an underrepresented background - such as a racial or ethnic minority, a disabled person, someone without formal educational qualifications, or part of the LGBTQIA+ community - we’ll guarantee you an interview through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme*. This isn’t an exhaustive list, so it’s completely up to you whether you choose to share this information.

*In cases where we receive a very high volume of applications, we may need to limit the number of Guaranteed Interview Scheme candidates progressing to interview. In this instance, we will prioritise candidates whose applications exceed our minimum scoring requirements.
 

Charity No. 216652 (E&W); SC039193 (Scotland)