Charlie Tallis
Opportunities for Young people
Opportunities for young people
Do you want to gain skills and experience in nature conservation and meet like-minded people? Our Youth Programme, for people aged 14-25 could be for you. Come along to one of our events to learn something new and connect with our wildlife loving community, join our monthly Youth Group or sign up to our mailing list to stay up to date with all youth news and opportunities.
Current Volunteering Opportunities
Monthly Youth Group (14-25-year-olds)
Our monthly sessions are a way to meet other young people who love nature and develop practical and transferrable skills in a safe, fun environment. We focus on habitat management, wildlife monitoring and occasionally enjoy some outdoor cooking!
We meet once a month on a Saturday usually at our amazing Grow Wilder site at 181 Frenchay Park Rd, Bristol BS16 1HB.
Wildlife Monitoring Youth Volunteers (18-25-year-olds)
We're looking for young people aged 18-25 to help us complete a series of wildlife monitoring activities on a nature restoration site throughout spring and summer 2026. This role is an opportunity to assist with regular wildlife monitoring which will inform restoration actions taken on the site, and contribute to national monitoring schemes.
Find more information and apply here.
Green Shoots Youth Leadership Group (12-18-year-olds)
We are looking for new members for our Green Shoots Youth Leadership Group. The project is an incredible opportunity to have fun, make friends, and get involved in hands-on conservation and meaningful decision-making alongside project partners, food growers, ecologists and local community members. You will take part in monthly day visits to Grow Wilder, with opportunities to also participate in community action days, online events, bespoke workshops, and residential visits across the project.
The Green Shoots project is a 3-year programme and we are currently partway through Year 2. You're welcome to remain involved for as long as possible whilst also being supported to find further opportunities in the environmental sector. You will work alongside local community members to make a lasting positive impact on the land and community, increasing biodiversity, food growing, and learning about sustainability whilst connecting to history, culture and mythology.
We are particularly hoping to hear from young people who experience barriers to accessing and engaging with nature, community and land-based projects.
The full information pack can be found here.
If you'd like to be part of the Youth Leadership Group, please fill out this online application form. The deadline is 11:59 pm on Sunday 15th March 2026. Informal interviews will take place on 23rd-25th March (availability can be selected in the application form).
Stay up to date with youth news and opportunities by signing up to our monthly Youth Round-Up emails:
Upcoming events for young people
Ways you can get involved
Events
We hold a variety of events, talks and workshops just for young people, many of them free of charge. No experience needed, these events are to join like-minded people together, spend time connecting to nature and expanding your local wildlife knowledge.
Volunteering
We are currently have 3 different volunteer opportunities available, including spaces in our monthly Youth Group - please see the top of this page for more details.
Our monthly sessions, for people aged 14 - 25, are a way to meet other young people who love nature and develop practical and transferrable skills in a safe, fun environment. We focus on habitat management, wildlife monitoring and occasionally enjoy some outdoor cooking!
We meet once a month on a Saturday usually at our amazing Grow Wilder site at 181 Frenchay Park Rd, Bristol BS16 1HB.
Work experience
Unfortunately, we aren't able to offer work experience placements or internships. Please sign up to the mailing list for signposting to other opportunities, and keep an eye out for any of our career focused events.
In the video below some of our staff talk about how they got into their role with Avon Wildlife Trust - covering roles in Communications, Practical Conservation, Wellbeing with Nature, and Community Engagement.
Meet the Youth Officers
All of our Youth Opportunities are supported by our two Avon Wildlife Trust Youth Officers, Connor and Tish.
Connor Meadows
I’m Connor and I help young people around the Avon area to take a closer look at the wildlife around us to appreciate the amazing plants and animals we can see on our doorstep and learn how to find them. I’m also helping young people use their voices for good and lead the Intergenerational Action for Climate and Nature project at Green Shoots.
I started my career in education at Bristol Zoo four years ago, and still haven’t found a better thrill than seeing the look on a young person’s face when they see a cool animal for the first time. Outside of work I co-host a wildlife podcast, collect charity shop nature books and am currently obsessed with moths. I’m excited to meet you through the events we run!
Tish Russell
I'm Tish and I support young people to connect with nature, find their way on their conservation career pathway and build confidence in the outdoors. I love meeting new people and continuing to grow our community of like-minded people, where we just enjoy nature and wildlife together!
I've been working in education and youth support for nearly ten years and continue to be inspired by the young people I work alongside. Outside of work, I'm a trustee for a local nature reserve, I love birdwatching and I paint when I can. You're always welcome to join our growing community!
Releasing moths from moth trap
(c) George Cook
