Training for Personal Development or Community
BTCV’s open training courses offer a wide range of possibilities. Whether you want to increase your own skills and confidence, meet other people and make new contacts, or do something positive for the environment, there’s something for you.
Do you want to learn new skills and techniques such as species identification, hedge laying, how to create a pond or wildlife garden, or find out how to motivate and lead other volunteers safely so that you can help the environment and your community too?
Or do you want to improve your skills in making presentations, fundraising, involving children in the environment or in working with others in your local community, for instance in running meetings or planning a campaign?
Our range of training courses can help meet your needs:
- Learn as you volunteer
- Become a Community Warden
- Customised training
- Learn on holiday
- Attend an ETN event
Learn as you volunteer
We provide training and support for all volunteers, and there are many opportunities for volunteering, during the week or at weekends.
We also have Volunteer Officer posts for people who want to make a commitment of time to support BTCV’s work. This offers considerable potential for self-development, and often leads to employment in the sector.
BTCV was the first national environmental charity to win the Investors in People Award, for its commitment to developing its own staff and key volunteers, and its recognition of the value of training and learning.
Community Warden
Being a community warden means that you can take an active role doing something positive for the environment where you live.
BTCV is the approved training provider for the Tree Council’s Tree Warden Scheme. As volunteers, tree wardens work alongside the local authority tree officer, reporting vandalism, suggesting new planting sites and generally raising awareness of trees in the community.
BTCV's Tree Warden Training programme consists of a series of one day courses on topics from tree law and identification to survey techniques and how to give talks community groups. Contact your nearest BTCV office for details
Customised Training
BTCV supports and works with community groups to encourage wider understanding and conservation of local environments and habitats.
We provide customised training designed to meet the specific needs of a group and their project. If you are a member of a local group and feel you have a training need, please contact us to find out how we can help you.
Conservation Holidays
Our conservation holidays in the UK and throughout the world offer you the chance to learn about conservation in a fun and friendly atmosphere over a weekend, a week or longer. Some holidays lead to qualifications too.
ETN (Environmental Trainers Network)
If you are looking for courses focusing on topics including:
- Working with Communities,
- Regeneration & Sustainability,
- Promoting Diversity,
- Fundraising and Income Generation,
- Communication and Interpretation,
- Management, Supervision, Legislation & Safety,
- Youth, Education & Play,
- Training & Interpersonal Skills
...then the Environmental Trainers Network programme will be of interest to you.
The ETN national programme of short courses is managed by BTCV on behalf of the Environmental Trainers Network. This well-established and renowned training programme is designed primarily for people working in the environmental sector, whether paid or voluntary. It is used extensively by voluntary organisations, local authorities and statutory bodies, as well as by individuals for personal development and by people volunteering within their local community.