Volunteering at Stover
As a volunteer you can expect:
- A safe, welcoming, stimulating and creative environment in which to volunteer
- An induction to the Country Park
- The chance to use existing skills and gain new ones
- To be treated fairly and with respect
- Recognition and appreciation of your contribution
We hope you will:
- Enjoy your time with us and carry out your role to the best of your ability
- Commit to reporting for duty as arranged, or give reasonable notice if you are unavailable
- Be flexible in carrying out tasks assigned to you
- Keep us informed of any problems encountered during your time with us. We encourage you to ask questions if you are unsure of any tasks and to let us know if things are not as you expected
- Keep up to date with volunteer briefings and information on procedures
- Follow our rules and procedures, including health and safety, equal opportunities, data protection and confidentiality
Why Volunteer at Stover Country Park?
Volunteering is a great way to develop new skills, learn about something you are interested in, and to meet people. We hope to make your experience enjoyable and rewarding, whether you choose to volunteer for a few hours, once in a while, or regularly. Our volunteers are part of Stover and we are grateful for the time and skills our volunteers give. We want to make sure you get the right support and opportunities that meet your skills and interests, so please let your Coordinator know what you would like from us.
Volunteering opportunities
We have a variety of roles throughout the year. These can range from outdoor practical tasks through to supporting with community events. A role description is available so you can understand what you will be doing.
People volunteer for lots of different reasons. For some, it is because they have an interest or skill that they want to follow, for others it is a way to get experience and develop new skills which could lead to paid work. As part of getting to know you, we will ask you questions about why you want to volunteer so that we can help you achieve your aims.
Current volunteer opportunities include:
- Sunday volunteers (carry out practical conservation tasks once a month September-April)
- British Dragonfly Society monitoring (once a month May-September)
- Photographing Stover with Newton Abbot Photographic Club
- Micro tree nursery volunteers (Stover School, ‘The Courtenay Centre’ Newton Abbot, and Heathfield Community)
- Community event volunteers
- Community Cycling Club leaders (training provided)
- Stover Community Shed volunteers (currently full until new building finished next Autumn)
- Outdoor classroom site maintenance.
For a up-to-date list of opportunities available please take a look at the Stover website (https://www.devon.gov.uk/stovercountrypark) or ask a staff member at Stover Country Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can volunteer?
Our volunteer programmes are open to anyone over the age of 16 years old, if you are under 16 years old then you must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
I have a health condition/disability – can I still volunteer?
We try to provide access to all and will make reasonable adjustments where necessary if possible. Please chat to us and we can see which volunteer role would be best suited for you to get the most fulfilment out of.
Will I be interviewed?
We will have an informal chat to discuss your interests, skills and what time you have available to volunteer. This is also an opportunity to find out about us and ask any questions you may have.
Will I get training?
Every volunteer will receive an induction to their role, so that they feel confident in the tasks that they are being asked to do. If tasks require additional training this will also be provided.
Will I get paid?
No, as a volunteer you will not receive pay. However, we aim to make volunteering affordable for everyone and are happy to discuss options for out out-of-pocket expenses, for example travel.
What commitment is required?
The commitment required will vary depending on your voluntary role and the time that you can give. You may get more enjoyment and gain more skills out of a regular commitment (e.g. one half day per month) but if this is not possible, we are happy to discuss this with you.
.How do I sign up for sessions?
Depending on your role you may be contacted by your Coordinator and asked to volunteer on an ad hoc basis. If you are a regular volunteer, you will have a regular session assigned to you.
.What if I cannot attend?
If you cannot make your agreed volunteer session it is important you notify your Coordinator, so we know not to expect you and that you are ok, and so we can organise cover if necessary. The best way to let us know is by phone (01803 835236).
Are facilities available to store personal property?
Any personal property can be locked away in one of our volunteer facilities, dependant on the role and location you are working in.
Will I be insured?
Stover Country Park has public liability insurance through Devon County Council to cover volunteers under the supervision or instruction of staff.
Are volunteers rewarded and recognised?
Yes, we run social ‘thank you’ events to reward the work carried out and we also promote the work achieved through publicity on and offsite.
Can groups volunteer?
If you have a community, school or corporate group that would like to volunteer at Stover Country Park then please do contact us to discuss how they could get involved.
How to Get Involved
Identify the role
Simply check our website to identify a role that you would like to fulfil and contact us either by phone (01803 835236) or email (stover@devon.gov.uk) .
Complete a registration form
You will be asked to complete a Volunteer Registration Form.
Meet up or chat
We will then contact you to arrange an informal chat to discuss your interests, skills and what time you have available to volunteer. This is also an opportunity to find out about us and ask any questions you may have. If after this chat you find that volunteering is not right for you, that is fine. We will not contact you again and delete any of your information. We may need to undertake a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check depending on the volunteer role. We will discuss this with you before we do.
Induction session
If you are still interested then we will invite you to come and observe a session and meet the other volunteers, this will also include an induction with your coordinator. This induction will cover a brief introduction to the Park and its amenities, your volunteer role commitment, an overview of policies and procedures including expenses, equality, privacy, health & safety.
Volunteer Agreement
Once you have completed an induction and have decided to volunteer, we will ask you to fill in a volunteer agreement. This provides information about what we expect from you and what you can expect from us.
Volunteer support
We are all different, so please tell us what level of support you would like. Your main point of contact will be your Coordinator and you will have regular catch up with this person. This is the person you can go to if you have any questions, ideas or concerns about volunteering at Stover Country Park. If you are unable to speak to your Coordinator, please contact the Senior Ranger.
Ongoing
We believe that the key to good volunteer experiences is good communication. We have formal and informal channels of communication. If you need any help at any stage to become a volunteer whether that’s help with completing forms or attending sessions, please talk to us. As a volunteer you can decide to stop volunteering at any time, without giving any reason, although if you are happy to, we would like to find out about your experience and if there were things we could improve.
To ensure that you are aware of what is happening within the Park, we will send out regular newsletters to all volunteers. We will hold regular social events during the year to ensure volunteers get to know each other and thank you for the work you have undertaken throughout the year.
And last of all, Thank you! Stover Country Park would like to thank all the volunteers for their help throughout the year, it’s very much appreciated!