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Volunteer Development Scotland Ltd. (also known as Volunteer Scotland).
Charity registered in Scotland SC013740 and a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland, No. SC106743. Our registered Office is Jubilee House, Forthside Way, Stirling. FK8 1QZ

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Local Wilder (Outdoor group leader)

Love Her Wild is a UK-based nonprofit women’s adventure community. We believe outdoor adventures boost well-being, increase confidence and help protect our planet through better connections to nature. Love Her Wild is an inclusive community providing opportunities, support and funding to make the outdoors more accessible. We’ve taken thousands of women on adventures from first-time mountain hikes to world-first overseas expeditions! To learn more about Love Her Wild visit the website: https://www.loveherwild.com/

Many of these experiences are run in our Local Groups and led by Local Wilders. We now have 39 local groups covering the whole of the UK including 10 groups in Scotland! Most of our Scottish groups are new so we are reaching out for volunteers who can help us build the community in Scotland. Each of these groups is run by a Local Wilder. These groups give women and non-binary people the opportunity to connect with others looking for adventure, ask for advice, share their stories, and join local meetups.

Local Wilders have a wide ranging but flexible role which can be adapted to suit the needs of the volunteer and the wants of the Local Group. As well as leading outdoor activities you will also be responsible for a Facebook group and community. Most groups have more than one Local Wilder who work together to manage their group. The description bellow outlines the typical responsibility taken on by a local wilder. however if you are interested in volunteer but are not sure you are able to meet certain aspects of the role then please get in touch so we can discuss how you could be involved.


You need to be:
• Enthusiastic about helping other women experience adventure.
• Confident to stand up, chat and lead in front of a group of women.
• Experienced enough to lead a walk/ride/swim etc in your local area.
• Competent enough on social media to help with admin work within the group.
• Able to commit to running 8 (or more!) events each year as Local Wilder as a mixture of evening and weekend events.


As a local wilder you will be expected to:
• Help admin the online group (approx 1 hour per week, usually 10 minutes a day),
approving membership requests, checking the mood of discussions (stepping in if required to maintain peace), and removing any advertising or offensive members. We will work together as team to do this and discuss any borderline cases together by messenger.
• Run FREE local events in your local group. (approx 8 per year between 3-7hours) These could be walks, bike rides, , wild swims, canoe trips, camping trips, surfing, picnic’s, SUP trips, trail running or anything else that you fancy organising!
• Help maintain online engagement within the Facebook group (particularly over the winter months) This might include hosting a free online zoom event or sharing educational content.


Benefits and rewards.
• It’s hugely rewarding. You'll get to accompany people on life changing trips from their first wild swims, first camping trips and confidence building first expeditions.
• The opportunity to meet and chat with a broad range of women and make new friendships.
• There is the option to run occasional paid events within our group (once you have some experience with running free events). With the agreement of Love Her Wild staff and using pre-approved qualified leaders the Local Wilder who undertakes the organisation for these events will have a free place made available to them in return for their time.
• Free attendance at the Local Wilder Weekend (run approximately every 9 months). This is a weekend open to all Local Wilders giving them an opportunity to meet each other, gain advice and mentorship, take part in training and have lots of fun!


Experience required

There are no particular skills or experience required except a love of the outdoors and enough competence to safely lead groups. If you are unsure if you skills and experience are suitable please do get in touch!

Support
Training details

All volunteers will receive an initial training session with the Community Manager (either online or in person depending on location). Volunteers are then supported through regular online meetings and training opportunities, a Facebook community for volunteers where you can ask for peer support and the Wilder Weekend where in person training is provided.

Taster

An online or in person taster introduction session can be organised (location dependant) please indicate on your application if you would like to take part in this.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18
Love Her Wild is a group specifically for women and non-binary people who feel they would benefit from a women centred space. As such this opportunity is only open to those who fit into this demographic.

Availability
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Frequency & commitment
Volunteering with Love Her Wild is best done long term so we ask volunteers to commit for at least a year at least. We ask local wilders to give and hour a week for Facebook group management and 8 events per year.

Volunteers (aged 18-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
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