Children's Play Volunteer

We are looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers to support our stay and play group on Tuesday mornings.

Time commitment:

Our Forest Play stay and play group is for parents/carers and young children. It runs on Tuesday morning 9:30 to 11:30am.

Volunteer role:

Volunteers work alongside our members, to help run groups and workshops. Tasks include:

• Helping set up before the group, setting out equipment and activities, setting up hot drinks for parents.
• Warmly greet families as they arrive, and engage with them during the session, helping create a warm, friendly atmosphere;
• Modelling respect for people, creatures, plants and trees, our resources and environment;
• Assisting with packing away after the session.

About HARE

HARE is a nature-centric community co-operative of nature-loving practitioners, who collaborate to bring their services to our local community. We are open to any individual or organisation offering any service that is in line with our aims and values.

Based in Hazel Woods, near Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, our purpose is to nurture the well-being of people in the Forest of Dean, through mindful connection with the natural world, creativity, community and spirituality.

We run seasonal celebrations based on the eight sabats of the wheel of the year. Interspersed with a variety of workshops and events in our woodland.

This role comes with the following benefits:

• You will have the opportunity to work with our members who run the group, learning to provide sessions for children and families; and develop your understanding of the care, learning and development of young children;
• We offer a supportive work environment. We aim to create a caring and collaborative work environment where everyone feels safe, fully supported and not judged.
• You will gain valuable first-hand experience engaging with children and families, providing crafts and activities, enabling you to enhance your CV.
• HARE can provide references if you apply for a job role.
• Make a difference in your local community by supporting a not-for-profit.
• Help to improve mental health and well-being in the community.
• Contribute to creating custodians of nature and the environment - preserving nature for future generations.
• Be part of a small, fun and supportive team - our team meets monthly for our Volunteer Land Stewardship Days, which are open to the public to join and support us.
• We meet regularly as a team for ‘Food & Fire’ evenings. An opportunity to relax around the fire, in our beautiful woodland and socialise with colleagues. We ‘bring and share’ food, support each other and have fun.

We are looking for Volunteers who love nature and the natural environment & are happy to work outdoors in most weathers, year round. Our ideal volunteer will be gentle, calm, patient and friendly, want to get to know children and families and take part in activities together during our sessions. If you’re interested in supporting the well-being of children and families through nature, this could be the role for you.

We are a small team so volunteering has a big impact. Support will be provided, if necessary, alongside an induction. If there is anything you’re not sure of, please email us and we will help you with the process.

If you would like to talk with us before deciding whether to apply, please give us a call. You can find our phone number on our website. Please note we work part time, so may not always be able to answer. In this case, please whatsapp us.