Education Outreach (voluntary trustee role)

Are you enthusiastic about giving our children and young people the best possible environmental education? Would you like to be part of a small team, supported by SDNP, who are helping schools do just that?

Petersfield Climate Action Network (PeCAN) is a young environmental charity with a respected education programme. Our small team have developed an excellent reputation for their schools outreach work with primary and secondary pupils, and have new funding from the SDNP to extend this to support schools with other aspects of sustainability, via help with policies and plans, CPD and events with parents.

We are looking for an additional lead for this education work, who will work with the current trustee lead to deliver a one-year pilot project based around East Hampshire and West Sussex. This could include being a PeCAN Trustee, but could alternatively be a lead role without trustee responsibilities. The role is supported by funded PeCAN office staff.

Person profile: Professional familiarity with schools is essential, whether from a teaching or local authority background, as is an ability to communicate effectively with school leaders. A passion for sustainability is a given. 

Time commitment: We expect the role will require a time commitment from a half-day a week. Given the spread of our outreach, you need not live near Petersfield, but may need to travel to schools, and any travel expenses will be reimbursed. You can read about our existing schools programme here.

If this could be you, please email [email protected] for an informal discussion.

Secretary (voluntary trustee role)

A trustee position to support the chair by handling the organisation’s administration tasks, convening board meetings and preparing documents, writing up the minutes, maintaining a register of trustees, ensuring that the organisation complies with legal requirements, helping to monitor the organisation’s progress against its goals.

To participate in core decisions relating to the organisation’s performance, governance and organisational development.

Person profile: You are passionate about climate change and protecting nature, live within easy striking distance of Petersfield, and enjoy working with a diverse and energetic group of volunteers. You have a practical mindset, good organisational skills and are comfortable working with governance documents. 

Time commitment: The trustee board meets every month for an hour and half to oversee projects and governance issues. As a key trustee you will be consulted on projects, funding bids and financial matters by other trustees as these arise. There are also one or two full-day meetings a year, normally in the spring, to update strategy. 

To express interest or arrange an informal chat with one of the existing trustees about this role, please email us.

There are many other great volunteering opportunities available at PeCAN. You can find an up-to-date list and sign up for activities on our Better Impact page.    

To whet your appetite, a description of some our volunteering roles is below.

Please note, PeCAN has policies on Volunteers, Health & Safety and Lone Working, Safeguarding and Complaints. 

Education outreach volunteer

We are looking for volunteers to help with our education outreach. This is part of the charity’s work to help the younger generation develop their understanding of climate change and what they might be able to do within their communities.  We run assemblies and workshops in both primary and secondary schools as well as for local youth groups and are looking for people to assist us in delivering those sessions.

What's involved?

• Join PeCAN’s presenters in schools/clubs and support them with their delivery of workshops and assemblies
• Help devise content for assemblies and workshops

What's the time commitment?

• You can offer as many or as few sessions as you like. Each one would need around half a day, including preparation

Some experience of education (primary or secondary or extra curricular) might be useful but really you just have to enjoy working with young people!

If you would like to find out more please contact Rachel Ritchie via our Contact Us page.

Events organiser

PeCAN needs volunteers to help us organise public events including walks, film screenings, public talks and the Eco Fair 2024. We are currently looking for help putting on small events for local business owners (e.g. bringing in experts to talk about sustainable packaging, carbon footprinting etc).  

What's involved? 

• Work with PeCAN staff to plan and organise events including finding venues and securing speakers and dates
• Help to promote and run events
• Help us think of new event ideas

What's the time commitment?

• This could be just for one event or more regular support. For a single event, expect a few hours a week for about a month

If you would like to find out more please contact us.

Eco Cafe host

Petersfield's Eco Café, supported by PeCAN, runs every Tuesday morning from 10am - midday at Winton House. We also run an evening 'cafe' once a month, usually on a Wednesday or Thursday from 7pm at Ruby & Monty's. We are looking for volunteers to help host these regular get-togethers.

What's involved? 

• Welcome newcomers and regular attendees
• Help to make teas and coffees
• Chat to people about what we could collectively do to help protect the environment in our town
• Share news and projects related to PeCAN and opportunities for people to get involved

What's the time commitment?

• Two hours plus set-up time. A regular commitment, such as hosting once a month, would be ideal  

If you would like to find out more please contact us.

Active Travel volunteer

Help us to campaign for improved cycling and walking routes in and around Petersfield, including the Rother Valley Way (a wonderful proposal to create a walking and cycling route between Petersfield and Midhurst along the old railway line).

What's involved?

• Work with PeCAN’s active travel lead to map routes, identify improvements, and promote them to local authorities through written consultations and meetings
• Help us to build evidence through well-designed surveys and prepare business cases for specific improvements
• Liaise with stakeholder groups, such as the Friends of the Rother Valley Way and Petersfield Town Council’s Town Development Committee
• Write blogs and articles
• Prior experience of route planning is not essential, but an interest in promoting cycling/walking is needed, as is a collaborative approach and professional skills
• Experience of mapping/drawing tools would be useful

What's the time commitment?

• One day a week, more or less depending on your availabililty

If you would like to find out more please contact us.

Planning response volunteer

We are looking for volunteers to help us review planning applications and submit comments about active travel, impacts on biodiversity, and the energy efficiency of dwellings. Can be done from home.

What's involved?

• Help us to decide which planning applications to respond to
• Help us to assemble evidence and submit planning objections or comments
• Liaise with interested individuals and community groups
• Monitor new developments during and after the construction phase
• Contribute to PeCAN’s responses to ad hoc consultations about planning policy, such as on Local Plans

What's the time commitment?

• As much or as little as you wish

Prior experience of town planning is not essential, but would be helpful. We are looking for volunteers with an interest in nature and biodiversity, residential energy usage, public transport, or other forms of active travel. We also hope that you will bring an interest in our local built environment, an eye for detail, an ability to make sense of complex information, good communication skills, and familiarity with email and Microsoft Word or equivalent.

If you would like to find out more please contact us.