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Volunteering and community work on Brownsea Island

A volunteer wearing red work gloves smiles with an armful of dried bracken
A volunteer clears bracken on Brownsea Island | © National Trust Images/John Miller

Please find information about our current work experience programme on Brownsea Island below.

Work experience on Brownsea

At Brownsea Island, we’re excited to offer young people the opportunity to gain valuable experience with the National Trust through our Work Experience Programme.

Work Experience Dates for 2025

  • 28th April – 3rd May
  • 2nd June – 6th June
  • 9th June – 13th June
  • 30th June – 4th July

How to apply

To apply for a work experience placement on Brownsea in 2025, please complete the application form here. We can also accept video applications via We Transfer, please send via email to brownseaisland@nationaltrust.org.uk  The closing date for applications is 28th February 2025 and successful applicants will be notified by Friday 7th March 2025.

 

Why join us?

There are lots of reasons to join us; making the move to volunteer could be the best decision you ever make. 

  • Become part of a friendly and dedicated team 
  • Meet people from all walks of life and forge new friendships 
  • Utilise your existing skills and learn new ones 
  • Strengthen your CV and help to develop your career 
  • Enjoy the great outdoors 
  • Learn about the history of this special place.

 

A group of four young adults from the Up programme standing in woodlands on Brownsea Island.
UP programme students at Brownsea in 2023 | © National Trust/ Dania Schmitz-Vaughan

Community engagement 

Throughout the past year, we've cultivated stronger community ties by forging strategic partnerships with the local councils and organisations. These collaborations have expanded opportunities, particularly for young people and people with disabilities in our community to access nature, beauty and history and to develop life skills.

 

Work experience programme

Working closely with schools and local universities, we've welcomed numerous work experience placements with a number of opportunities for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Applications go live in November for the following year.  You can also speak to us at the annual careers and apprenticeship show in Bournemouth.  

 

 

Upskill programme

This incredible initiative is tailored for individuals aged 16-18 who are currently not engaged in formal education or employment. Working in collaboration with UP in BCP, (Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole local authority), the programme offers a unique opportunity for young people to gain valuable, practical experience in a real work environment. Over the course of 6 weeks, participants will have the chance to enhance their existing skills and develop new ones, setting them on the path to success.

Urban Places Strategy

The overall aim of the work is to address unequal access to nature, beauty and history, focused in and around towns and cities:​​

  • We will work with others to increase access to parks and green spaces in, around and near urban areas, so eventually everyone can easily reach places of quiet with wide open skies.​

  • We'll share our skills and develop new ways to protect cherished local heritage sites, working with the communities that care about them.​

  • We will work in new places in towns and cities, growing our partnerships​

Brownsea Island is pleased to help support the delivery of the National Trust Urban Spaces Strategy alongside our partners at BCP. ​This includes joint working around the Stour Valley Project, Littledown Greenway and wider support of BCP's Green Strategy. ​

 

 

Volunteers working in the woodland at Wentworth Castle, Yorkshire, clearing fallen leaves

Fancy getting involved?

Click the link and search 'Brownsea' for all the volunteering opportunities with us. If you can't find what you're looking for, why not fill out the expression of interest form and tell us a bit more about you and how you would like to get involved. Here you can either indicate your role preference/s from the vacancies we have listed. Once we receive your information, we'll get in touch to discuss next steps.

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