Volunteering with the Ocean Discovery Rangers

Volunteering with the Ocean Discovery Rangers

Are you passionate about the Ocean? Would you like to meet like-minded people, raise awareness about nature, and learn about incredible sea creatures? Volunteering could be for you! 

Volunteers are an essential part of our public engagement team, who engage and inspire visitors to the National Marine Aquarium, the Ocean Conservation Trust’s centre of excellence. Together with our Ocean Discovery Rangers, they inspire the public to fall in love with the Ocean. 

As a volunteer, you’ll receive on-the-job instruction in both Marine Biology and Science Communication from an award-winning team. We’ll provide all the training you need, so this opportunity is available to all, from yellow-bellied land-lubbers to certified mermaids: all you need is a passion for the Ocean!  

This opportunity is great for improving communication skills and gaining confidence in like-minded company at the UK’s biggest Aquarium, all while supporting our charity’s aim of restoring and protecting the ocean. 

The volunteer role has the potential to be incredibly varied, with the option to get involved with as little or as much as you’d like. The bread-and-butter of volunteering with us is speaking with aquarium guests within the National Marine Aquarium, but there are loads of extra opportunities to get involved and broaden your skills if you choose to. You can get stuck into workshops and VIP Behind the Scenes Tours, assist with seasonal events such as rock-pooling and boat trips, or even represent the Ocean Conservation Trust at community events around Plymouth. We also welcome 30,000 school pupils to the Aquarium each year, so you’ll have the chance to get involved with formal education including school tours and art and science workshops if you wish. 

To get the most out of our Volunteer Programme we recommend long term volunteering (6 months plus) as there is lots to learn, and lots to get involved with! We recommend that people looking for shorter term opportunities consider our Work Experience Programme, Dive Volunteering, or the Husbandry Internship.

Requirements

• To volunteer, you must be aged 17 or over; if you are 17 you must have a letter of consent from a parent or guardian. 
  • If you are aged between 14 and 18 and are interested in gaining a week of experience with the team, consider applying for our work experience programme
• We require volunteers to commit to coming in at least 1 day a month at minimum, though we can always be flexible around holidays, exams, and so on. Shifts are chosen by you, so whenever works well for you works well for us! 
• Shifts run from 10:00 – 16:00 (6 hours long with a 30-minute lunch break) for a full day, or from 10:00 – 12:30 or 12:30 – 16:00 (3 hours long) for a half day. We can be somewhat flexible on these timings if travel, lectures, or other appointments are an issue. 
• This volunteering is entirely focused on public communication and as such does not involve animal care or husbandry; applicants must be comfortable with public speaking or willing to learn in a supportive environment. 
• Those interested more in animal care should consider opportunities with our Animal Husbandry team 
• Prior knowledge is not essential as training is provided by our Ranger team, but an enthusiasm for the marine environment and a willingness to learn is essential! 
• Please be aware that this role requires lots of standing and walking, but we are happy to make reasonable adjustments as necessary; please get in touch if you would like to discuss this further. 
• In line with current legislation all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. As part of the recruitment process you will be asked to provide documented evidence of eligibility. 

The Ocean Conservation Trust operates an Equality and Diversity Policy and is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. All applications will be judged solely on merit; however, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in the workforce. 

Note: We are unable to offer expenses for travel or sustenance as part of regular volunteering.

How to Apply – APPLICATIONS COMING SOON

We hold recruitment evenings 4 times a year. Watch this space for 2025 recruitment.

Please email our Volunteer Coordinator with a brief outline (no more than 200 words) of why you would like to Volunteer at the National Marine Aquarium and any skills or experience you have that you feel make you a strong candidate. If your application is successful, you will be sent a link which can be used to book onto any 2024 recruitment evenings.

Contact Details:
Volunteer Coordinator
Email: volunteer@oceanconservationtrust.org