Post:
TCV Natural Networks trainee: Community Wildlife Officer
Bursary:
£11,900
Location:
North East of Northern Ireland, based in Coleraine
Duration:
12 MONTHS
Start date:
25th January 2016
Closing date for Applications: 30th October 2015
Thank you for your interest in the TCV Natural Networks Training Programme. Natural Networks is a new project
funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It will develop skills to facilitate the 'green network' of sites considered essential
for the effective conservation of biodiversity, creating a UK wide web of expertise in managing and engaging people
in ecological networks. The project will develop the skills of 32 trainees and hundreds of communities across the UK
to understand, value, protect and increase the biodiversity of their local green places.
Project Background
The aim of the placement will be to assist The Conservation Volunteers Coleraine office in improving the biodiversity
of many sites in the North East of Northern Ireland, with particular emphasis on a landscape scale project on coastal
and dune sites. This will include control and eradication of invasive species such as bracken, sea buckthorn and
Himalayan balsam, restoration of typical sand dune habitat and the control of erosion largely due to recreational
pressure. The trainee will play an important role in engaging with local communities and users of the sites to increase
their awareness of and participation in the protection and improvement of the sites. There will also be an opportunity
to be involved in smaller scale local community and school projects to help improve green spaces that are
immediately relevant to local people.
Learning Outcomes
The Trainee will be supported to identify and achieve a range of learning outcomes, including filling skills gaps and
opportunity to gain an accredited qualification. During the placement, the trainee will achieve a range of Green
Network and Community Development learning outcomes, as follows.
Green Network Learning Outcomes

Developing and improving ecological networks: The trainee will be involved in improving the biodiversity of
a number of costal sites, in particular the network of sand dune sites around the North East coast of Northern
Ireland and helping to strengthen the links between the various organisations with responsibility for or an
interest in these sites. Joint working with TCV’s Conservation Action Team and other statutory and NGO
partners including The National Trust and the Causeway Council Biodiversity Officer, will involve the trainee
in improvements to a network of costal sites as well as other sites across the region. TCV is part funded by
Northern Ireland Environment Agency to make improvements to habitats across the north-east and
particularly the three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the region, these being: Antrim Coast
and Glens, Binevenagh and Causeway Coast. There is an opportunity to be involved in projects to join up
different habitats and involve communities in the work e.g. planting trees and hedges to link up the existing
areas of woodland.

Surveying, managing and improving local greenspace: Surveying, managing and improving local green space
is a vital part of the work of TCV. There will be ample opportunity for the trainee to gain hands-on practical
skills and experience through accompanying the local Project Officer on site visits, assisting with surveying
sites and drawing up site action and management plans, through to working as part of the team that delivers
the actions. TCV also has links with external organisations, such as The National Trust or Causeway Council
Biodiversity Officer, who can provide with short-term survey work experience to add additional experience in
more detailed habitat survey work.

Engaging and supporting local communities to understand and protect local green places: Engaging and
supporting local communities to understand and protect local green places is an important aspect of TCV’s
work. In the North East region we work with communities to help them improve open-spaces in their local
area close to where people live, but we also aim to involve people in further away sites, such as the coastal
sand dunes and other sites that might be less familiar to them. The trainee will assist with the training and
support of volunteers from local communities in understanding their local environment and undertaking
projects to improve it. He/she will also engage with local communities and recreational users of the local
green spaces being improved by TCV.
Community Learning and Development Learning Outcomes

Enabling others to identify needs, plan and take action to protect and improve local green places: The
trainee will be encouraged and supported to adopt a community development approach when engaging with
local communities, so that the communities are empowered to input their own ideas as to the shape of their
own local green spaces. The trainee’s Personal Community Environmental Engagement Project will also be
key to achieving this learning outcome.

Enabling others to develop skills: The trainee will work with and assist with the mentoring of unemployed
volunteers who have joined TCV’s Conservation Action Team, to develop practical and employability skills
under the European Social Fund programme for the unemployed.

Working with individuals & communities to achieve change: This is our vision and what TCV does every day
on the ground and is undertaken on a substantial scale by the Coleraine office. The trainee will assist us to
work with approx 1500 individuals, improving around 50 sites across County Antrim and East Londonderry
during his/her placement year.
The trainee will also:

Identify underrepresented groups / communities that do not traditionally engage with the environment in
Coleraine. Through engagement with community workers community, group leaders and individuals the
trainee will identify opportunities to include these communities in participating in the project and improving
their input to developing the biodiversity of the area.
Person specification
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications:

Candidates will need to possess at least a basic
knowledge of the environment, conservation and
biodiversity.
Educated to secondary level, including qualifications in
English and maths
ALL
Experience:

A personal interest in natural history




Working with individuals and groups from a wide range
of backgrounds and abilities
Some experience of natural history identification
Experience of working outdoors (e.g. on a nature
conservation project)

Strong leadership skills
Public speaking experience


Skills:
Excellent communication skills
Experience of working with volunteers and community
groups
Good numeracy and literacy skills, with NVQ 1 level (or
equivalent) to demonstrate these skills
Experience delivering environmental education

Basic competency in use of IT

A knowledge of health and safety issues relating to
outdoor activities


Personal Qualities:
A motivated individual with a passion, commitment and
enthusiasm for protecting and a commitment to

conserving our natural environment


Applicants must have the dedication and drive to work
on their own initiative with community groups,

individuals and volunteers.
A willingness to learn and share what is learned
Organisational skills and excellent time management
Self-confidence, reliability and the ability to work with
minimal supervision. Applicants must be able to work
on their own initiative or as part of a team
Other:
An aptitude for engaging people and an interest in

natural heritage are the most important qualities in a
potential applicant.
A Standard Disclosure Check (AccessNI check) will be
required
Some evening and / or weekend activities will be
required
Clean driving licence and 1 year’s (minimum) driving
experience