Download our Volunteer Handbook here: Volunteer Handbook
Volunteer Hub
Download our Volunteer Handbook here: Volunteer Handbook
Download our Volunteer Handbook here: Volunteer Handbook
Download our Volunteer Handbook here: Volunteer Handbook
BFER are looking for Events Volunteers to help support at a range of different events and activities across the Brecks.
BFER delivers a wide variety of events and activities, from guided walks, to archaeology workshops, community runs, to family craft, talks, training sessions, information stalls, and much more.
Join BFER and assist at activities and events near you. Learn new skills, meet new people and industry professionals, boost confidence, and have fun!
Thetford Conservation Group is a friendly volunteer group working to take care of the natural environment, in the riverside town of Thetford. Volunteers work together to conserve and maintain outdoor spaces through activities such as planting, woodland management, wildlife surveying, and restoration work. The group work across a range of diverse sites, including Barnham Cross Common (a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its beautiful Breckland flora), the scheduled ancient monument of Castle Mound, and Fredericks wood.
Join the group to learn new skills, meet new people, and spend time outdoors while making a positive contribution to your local environment.
Tales From the River Research Volunteers
Would you like to join the team of volunteers gathering Brecks swimming and outdoor recreation history and stories? Training provided for volunteers; no previous experience needed.
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Locations and Dates:
Training: Wednesday 22 September – possibly 12:30-16:30 Tales from the River: doing research and intro to Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds.
Research and story gathering: flexible locations in the Brecks project area.
Once trained volunteers can then work independently and flexibly (alone or in small teams), with direction and support from project lead.
Required skills and abilities: An interest in local history.
Contact Details: Imogen Radford – imogen36@googlemail.com
More info on the training sessions and the project: https://www.imogensriverswims.co.uk/blog/os-brecks-2/tales-from-the-river-training-begins-7-july-2021/
Bush Adventures UK Events Volunteers
Events Volunteers help to deliver a variety of different events for Bush Adventures UK from planning and preparation to setting up and running activities on the day, such as paddle hire or social events. It’s about offering something fun and memorable for customers and encouraging them to return and tell their friends about us.
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Location: Various, depending on the event.
Required skills and abilities: Would suit someone who has a friendly and enthusiastic manner and enjoys working with people. This role can sometimes be physically demanding, and you may be on your feet all day. All training/resources and task specific training will be provided as you volunteer. Out-of-pocket travel expenses between home and volunteering place will be offered.
Dates/times: Various, depending on the event.
Contact Details: Karen Brazier – 07787 535888; team@bushadventuresuk.org
Further Information: Bush Adventures Events Volunteer Description
Bush Adventures UK Garden Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to assist with the renovation, maintenance, and development of green space/garden areas within Thetford.
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Location: Memorial Garden at Riversdale (Tanner Court, Riversdale Centre/Tanner St, Tanner St, Thetford IP24 2BQ) and the Wild’s Place on St Giles Road, Thetford (Bush Adventures UK, Wilds Place, St Giles’ Ln, Thetford IP24 2AE).
Required skills and abilities: Would suit someone who has a friendly and enthusiastic manner and enjoys working with people. This role can sometimes be physically demanding, and you may be on your feet all day. All training/resources and task specific training will be provided as you volunteer. Out-of-pocket travel expenses between home and volunteering place will be offered.
Dates/times: Various, depending on the event.
Contact Details: Karen Brazier – 07787 535888; team@bushadventuresuk.org
Further Information: Bush Adventures Gardens Volunteer Description
Charles Burrell Museum Front of House Volunteer
In the role of Front of House Volunteer, you will be the person to give the first impression of the Museum to our visitors. In this role you would need to be welcoming, friendly and not mind talking to the public! Duties include collecting information on where our visitors have come from on a form, answering questions, making sales of merchandise, as well as keeping the Foyer clean and tidy.
Charles Burrell Museum Main Display Area Guide
A friendly demeanour and being willing to chat is essential to this role. You will be required to have information to hand to answer questions from the public about the objects on display, including the engines and the company history. Ideally an ability to ‘tell the story’ of Burrell’s works and offer a personal interpretation of it to visitors would be welcome. But these volunteers don’t just stand around waiting to talk though! There is always something else to do – polishing, dusting, making sure the display areas are tidy is also part of the job.
Charles Burrell Museum Café Staff
In this role you will be under the direct instruction and supervision of Café Manager, Gail Townsend. In this role hygiene and food safety are very important. All our volunteers are trained to Level 2 in Food Handling and if you complete the training period and wish to continue then you will also be given the opportunity to do so. Duties within the Café include taking orders and receiving payment, preparing food and drinks, carrying trays to customers, cleaning and washing up.
Charles Burrell Museum Engine Specific Volunteer
In this role you will be under the direct instruction and supervision of Engine Officer, Richard Stock. This role involves cleaning, polishing and maintenance work so you mustn’t mind getting dirty. When working with the engines, safety is key so you must be able to follow clear instructions and be relied upon to sometimes undertake tasks without direct supervision. Our existing volunteers know our engines inside out and will teach anyone willing to learn. No previous experience of working with traction engines or steam engines generally is necessary but it would be useful. Any previous engineering experience would also be welcome. Vacancies in this area are only available on an as required basis. [Please note – this role does not mean that you will automatically be working on the engines when they are in steam. Once you have gained experience however you may be invited to join the existing volunteers to help with the engines at events – however – this is at the Engine Officer’s discretion and his decision is final].
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Location: Charles Burrell Museum, Minstergate, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1BN
Required skills and abilities: Front of House and Display Area Guide roles would suit someone who has a friendly and enthusiastic manner and enjoys working with people. Full training will be given for all roles, and you will get the chance to ‘shadow’ an existing volunteer for as long as you would like to.
Dates/Times: Tuesdays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Contact Details: Helen Whitton-Rogers – info@charlesburrellmuseum.org.uk and 01842 751166
Further Information: Charles Burrell Museum Volunteer Roles
Run Breckland Volunteer Marshals
Each Run Breckland event has a different requirement for volunteer marshals. This will depend on the length of the course, the number of participants, and any location-specific issues such as terrain. Marshals’ main tasks are guiding, interacting with, and encouraging the participants around the course, including warning them of any obstacles or hazards, and alerting the Event Director of any incidents. Some marshals may be invited to assist in the start/finish area with tasks such as registration, timekeeping and/or offering refreshments to our runners. Depending on the length of the route marshals may also be asked to man checkpoints, which would entail offering drinks and snacks to participants, and taking a note of their running numbers as they pass.
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Location: Various (dependent on the event)
Required skills and abilities: Marshals are asked to be welcoming, enthusiastic and helpful. We will provide you with any equipment you will need, including signage and hivis vests. We will also provide tables and gazebos for those manning checkpoints during our marathon/half marathon events. In addition, hot and cold drinks are provided free of charge and there is often also cake or other baked products!
Dates/times: Various (dates of events will be circulated to all events volunteers).
Contact Details: runbreckland@btinternet.com
Further Information: Run Breckland Marshals
Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) – Practical Conservation Volunteer
We work on a range of habitats including wetlands, heathlands, woodlands, grasslands and those in between. Tasks vary during the year and include things like coppicing, pollarding, cutting back scrub, digging ponds, tree planting in the autumn/winter, to path clearance, fence repairs and maintaining the electric fences, during the spring, to cutting fen vegetation and removing invasive species during summer/autumn – there is something for everyone. We do offer other volunteering opportunities such as helping with surveying and monitoring, helping us with events and guided walks – please get in contact.
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Location: We are based along the Little Ouse Headwaters between Garbolisham and Redgrave (some of our sites are in BFER Area). Details of meeting places are sent out after joining. (Thelnetham Windmill is near by IP22 1JS).
Required skills & abilities: No experience is necessary and full training and guidance is provided. Just a willingness to join in.
Dates & Times: We run practical conservation work parties every Wednesday and Thursday, usually 2 tasks morning 9am-12pm, afternoon 12.30pm-3.30pm (these are sometimes all day but people can choose when they can come – we are currently not running Thursday afternoons due to lack of numbers at present). We also run a weekend session 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month 10am-1pm.
Contact details: Ellie Beach – Conservation Manager – ellie.beach@lohp.org.uk 07919 912045
Futher information: www.lohp.org.uk
Norfolk Wildlife Trust – Ghost Pingo Project (Water Level/ Monitoring Volunteer
To regularly record water levels and undertake periodic fixed point photography on sites being targeted by the ‘Ghost Pingo’ project, all in the Breckland area. Checking and recording water levels (reading gauge boards and taking measurements from dipwells) from excavated ghost pingos or sites proposed for future excavation. Undertaking fixed point photography of excavated ghost pingos. Collating records and submitting to project lead. Sites need to be checked on a minimum monthly basis. Between 1 and 4 sites will need to be visited (all of which lie within 10 miles of each other, located in the eastern Brecks)
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Location: Thompson Common (Watering Farm extension) and the surrounding area
Required skills & abilities: You will be to live fairly locally to the sites where water level checks need to be carried out. You must be reliable and able to accurately record information. No experience necessary – training and comprehensive guidance will be given. Ability to follow given health & safety guidelines.
Dates & Times: One or more days per month
Contact details:
Futher information: https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/support-us/volunteering/vacancies
TCV in Norfolk is working with local communities to improve their environment all over Norfolk. Task might include tree planting, restoring ponds, managing wildflower meadows and coppicing woodlands. Our friendly volunteer groups welcome a very wide range of people, you do not need any previous experience to join in. Please see our website or contact mark.webster@tcv.org.uk or call 07740 899 691.
Further information: www.tcv.org.uk/norfolk
The Icknield Way Association is looking for more members, officers, and wardens. They need your support as the Association continues to be the only voluntary organisation looking after the interests of the route as a whole, monitoring any actions that may threaten its integrity. They work in co-operation with highway authorities and other stakeholders with an interest in the route to carry out improvements. The Association co-ordinates a team of voluntary local wardens who are its ‘eyes and ears’ along the route.
Further information on officer & warden opportunities: Join Us – Icknield Way Path
To purchase the Icknield Way Walking Guidebook: The Icknield Way Path – A Walkers’ Guide
Sign up to the newsletter here: Newsletter – Icknield Way Path
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Volunteer Opportunities in Norfolk: Voluntary Norfolk
Volunteer Opportunities in Suffolk: Community Action Suffolk
Our Partners below are also recruiting volunteers for a variety of exciting projects in the Brecks:
River Lark Catchment Partnership
Thetford Town Council Conservation Group
If you are recruiting volunteers in the Brecks area and would like to advertise your opportunities here, please complete the volunteer opportunities form or email: bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk
Heritage Fund: Lottery Guidance
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