The Conservation Volunteers

The Conservation Volunteers  has been successfully delivering practical environmental action since 1983. A recent economic report (Valuing our environment, 1997) accredited Conservation Volunteers as being responsible for two thirds of all environmental voluntary work in Northern Ireland, improving hundreds of sites every year and involving tens of thousands of volunteers.

Conservation Volunteers is an Investor in People organisation and holds the Welcoming Multi-ethnic Volunteers standard.

Our Services

A team of 40 staff work from five offices across Northern Ireland delivering a range of services including:-

Conservation Action Teams

The teams deliver practical environmental/conservation projects for landowners, eg councils, farmers, schools and businesses. Work undertaken includes:

• countryside access,
• tree planting,
• school grounds development,
• habitat construction, and
• land management.

Site visits, practical advice, costings and information on funding sources are available. For more information contact your nearest office:

• Belfast 9064 5169
• North Down 9064 5169
• Coleraine 70355352
• L/Derry 7126 2664
• Fermanagh 6862 8184.

Green Gyms

Green Gyms offer environmental volunteering opportunities with a strong personal health focus for community, older people and women’s groups, school children and people with mental ill health, physical disabilities and learning difficulties. Businesses also are considering the impact of Green Gyms in combating stress in the workplace and for CSR delivery. For more information contact:- [email protected]

Training for Employment

The Conservation Volunteers offer a programme of free training and support to unemployed people, to help them gain skills and qualifications and move on to employment or further training. The Training for Employment Programme is funded by European Social Fund and Department for the Economy.

We offer a range of vocational qualifications and short courses including:

• Level 1 Award and Certificate in Practical Horticulture 
• First Aid certificate
• Construction Skills Register Card (CSR) training
• Introductory Health & Safety Certificate
• Machinery use certificates

Other Support we provide:

• Practical work experience on different horticultural and environmental projects
• On-site training
• Job search support and training
• Help with curriculum vitae and job applications
• We will pay all relevant registration and assessment fees
• Provide all relevant personal protective equipment 
• We may provide some expenses for travel and lunch
• Self-employment

For more information contact your nearest office:

• Belfast  028 9064 5169
• North Down 028 9064 5169
• Coleraine 028 7035 5352
• L/Derry 028 7126 2664

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities exist on each of the above areas of work. If you want to find out more about how to get involved use the contact information provided.