Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to volunteer with us and gain valuable experience whilst helping us to collect data on the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay, run our visitor centre and inspire visitors through our educational and awareness raising activities.
Positions have become available for the following volunteering periods.
- Block C: 4th July – 4th September (8 weeks) Please note that the successful applicant will be sharing a bedroom with 3 male volunteers.
- Block D: 5th September – 31st October (8 weeks)
We ask that volunteers are able to commit for the entire block and priority will be given to those that can volunteer for both blocks.
About CBMWC
The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is based in New Quay, west Wales, UK. Since 1996 we have been dedicated to raising awareness of the local marine environment through education and research. Using boat-based and land-based surveys, photo-ID and acoustic studies we monitor bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seal populations in the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and wider Irish Sea. We also run a busy visitor centre as well as our Discovery Room which offers marine educational and awareness raising activities for families, schools and groups. In April 2015 we became part of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) and will be delivering the trusts Living Seas programme.
What You Will Gain
Volunteering for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales at CBMWC is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a positive contribution to marine wildlife conservation and meet new people who share your interests. You will learn about the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay, gain experience in field work, research methods, data processing, public awareness and education programmes. The data you collect will contribute to long running research studies on bottlenose dolphin site usage, abundance, photo-identification and acoustic studies. There may also be additional opportunities to gain experience in boat handling and seamanship skills. Past volunteers have gone on to further education, work as MMO’s and to work for other conservation organisations.
Role Description
Volunteering tasks include (but are not limited to):
- Visitor centre operation, including dealing with enquiries and taking boat bookings
- Land-based surveys in conjunction with Ceredigion County Council’s Dolphin Watch
- Boat-based surveys*
- Educational and awareness raising activities with children and the general public
- Data entry and checking
- Updating daily sightings information
- Beach cleans
- Aquarium maintenance
- Cleaning and general upkeep of CBMWC premises
* Boat surveys are weather dependent and volunteers take turns to join trips to act as onboard researcher. During times of bad weather, you will spend more time carrying out shore-based activities.
Person Specification:
Essential Skills
- Positive, reliable, responsible, conscientious and mature attitude
- Ability to work and live closely with others as part of a small team
- Strong work ethic with an ability to work unsupervised
- Adaptable and patient (particularly as boat work is weather dependent)
- Confident in dealing with the public both face to face and over the telephone
- Fluency in English
Desirable Skills
- Interest and/or experience of working with children in environmental education
- Research and surveying experience
- IT skills, including Microsoft Office and GIS
- Interest and or/experience in salt water aquaria
Please note that enthusiasm for our work and the marine environment is as valued as experience, since full training is provided.
Volunteer Fee
An administration fee of £45 will be required from all successful applicants.
Accommodation and Expense Arrangements
Shared accommodation in a comfortable and fully equipped house will be arranged for successful volunteers (where required) at a cost of £55 per week, including bills. Please be aware that volunteers share same sex bedrooms. Volunteers are responsible for their own food, travel and accommodation costs but it is very easy to find part time work in New Quay.
Due to payment arrangements with the house owners, accommodation costs are required in advance to cover the cost of each block so before applying please ensure that you can cover this and all other expenses.