by Geoff Boswell
Take one step forward those who will …
Volunteer? Me? Yes, I have heard before, the number of so called earth-loving pagans out there that never put hand to soil, it’s very disheartening!
Don’t be worried; there are probably few reasons that you can give me on the subject of why you can’t possibly volunteer that I haven’t already heard. Yes, that includes the fact that the dragon is bilious on any day ending in a ‘Y’ so you can’t get there on public transport.
However, I would genuinely wish you to consider it. Let me introduce to you, for those who are not familiar to it, a little known UK charitable organisation called BTCV. They are a registered charity; in fact, they are the largest charity of its kind in the UK. Yet the majority of people have never heard of them. What do they do? Well if I told you that they used to be known as the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers then it may well give you a clue. I’ll tell you what they do - they empower the individual to reach their utmost potential through conservation works in the local environment. Regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, social class, mental, physical and emotional ability, gender, sexual preference or which football team one supports. Now that’s what you call indiscriminate. BTCV believes in people working for a better environment, just the sort of thing you would expect a pagan to say. So, why do few pagans volunteer? BTCV’s ethos also includes the belief that if a job can be done by a volunteer, then it should be done by one. There are numerous ways one can become involved in this, the earthiest form of pagan volunteering.
The average volunteer, if such a beast exists, finds themselves involved in diverse practical tasks, from dry stone walling to hedge laying, tree planting to wildflower seeding, coppicing and pollarding, woodland management, scrub clearance, pond work, fence erection and willow weaving: many skills which when learned can be of use, or at least entertaining to Druids.
Training can be given to volunteers in many ways by BTCV. Each local community project (or office) runs task days where you learn and hone your skills whilst contributing to the local environment. One off specialist training days could introduce you to many of the tasks outlined earlier. You can enter into vocational courses such as NVQ level 2 Landscapes and Ecosystems, Forestry, or even horticultural units. The array of courses and type of fieldwork available via BTCV is immense, even stretching to bringing in external teaching bodies. This is an excellent route for a pagan to take who wishes to be employed in an occupation that is part of the solution, not part of the problem! Just bring old clothes, strong boots and a packed lunch!
Becoming a Volunteer (or Voluntary) Officer means you give a specific time commitment to your local project and assist in the running of that BTCV office’s activity in the local community through your own specific role. You will enter into a formal understanding with your Project Officer (read branch manager, as each office in each town or city is called a ‘project’ and its manager an ‘officer’) about the work you will do and the support and training you will receive from your line manager and BTCV in general. This is usually in a written agreement, but don’t be concerned, BTCV does not ask for any legally binding contract of employment with you. Just agree how many months or weeks you will volunteer, how many days a week and discuss what you can do and the tasks you can undertake. You probably have as much to offer BTCV as they do to you! They will put you through First Aid at Work courses and much more too. BTCV will also supply protective clothing and footwear, sweatshirts, jackets and badges. You supply the Druid enthusiasm.
As a BTCV Leader, if you chose to become one, you could guide groups of volunteers on practical projects, such as Natural Breaks and Conservation Holidays. Not only do you get the satisfaction of training them in the skills necessary to work safely and complete the projects, but also you and they can enjoy the experience in some beautiful parts of the UK and in other lands and countries (I’ve always fancied Iceland, but never got there).
Project organisation involves running a programme of practical conservation projects for volunteers. Each project can last from one or two days to a week or more. You would act as project manager ensuring the successful completion of the work. Most task days take place in the week, but many projects run Sunday or Weekend groups too. See, you can volunteer outside of the 9 till 5.
BTCV also work in association with other organisations to run other types of project. Anything from herb growing projects, to tree nurseries and tree warden schemes, through to work with Age Concern, New Deal, RSPB and other voluntary outfits. Just ask your local project office what is around the area. BTCV also have links with other conservation bodies in your area, so your list of contacts is much wider than you think.
Perhaps a type of community work is more your idea of being a good Druid? With BTCV you could work with groups in your own local community. The retired, schools, other religions and philosophies, and the needy - all these blocks of people and more can be educated, advised and supported in practical conservation work that will improve their environment and ultimately fulfil the criteria that we all should be searching for - a better world.
Finally, I said that BTCV were little known. Well, how about getting involved in promoting BTCV’s work throughout local communities across the UK? You can liase with the press (like Pentacle, The Druids Voice, Pagan Dawn and Touchstone), radio and television, producing promotional materials such as leaflets, newsletters, press releases, and of course, organising events like Tree Dressing Day, Apple Orchard Day, A Walk in The Woods, Seed Gathering Sunday and a whole host more! BTCV also need people to help with a myriad of office management and administrative tasks at offices throughout the country.
If you are on income support or welfare benefits of any kind you can still volunteer with BTCV without jeopardising your state given money. Your local BTCV will be pleased to advise you. While working with BTCV you are also covered by its ‘public liability’ and ‘personal accident’ insurance. You can rest in peace as well as work in peace with BTCV.
You are never out of pocket with BTCV as they pay your travelling expenses to and from the office, or alternatively some projects collect volunteers from pick up points on task days, just enquire at your local office.
For further information you can contact:
BTCV
36 St. Mary’s Street
Wallingford
OX10 0EU
England
Telephone : 01491 821600
Brochure Line : 01491 824602
Fax : 01491 839646
Email : information [at] btcv [dot] org [dot] uk
Website : http://www.btcv.org.uk.
Head office can tell you where your local office is, and the all-important contact details.
There are so many more training opportunities and environmental experiences that one can encounter with BTCV, you really should enquire. While you are enquiring, ask about their Environmental Policy, or the Education of Volunteers Policy, how you can work in IT or become a registered driver for BTCV. Find out what vacancies BTCV have for paid posts in your area, or if nothing else send for a publications list or merchandise brochure. After all, we have had the Year Of The Volunteer, and this is volunteering for Druids. Tell them The Druid Network sent you!
Geoff Boswell
February 2003
(previously published in Tooth and Claw)
Geoff was a Voluntary Officer with BTCV at community projects in Dudley and Sandwell areas during 2000 and 2001, and a member of the West Midlands Regional Committee for BTCV. He has helped create the Sandwell Tree Warden Group, was a member and a regional co-ordinator (and nearly committee member) of the Pagan Federation, is a member of the Druids of Albion and the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and recently worked on a Sacred Lands Project and conservation InterFaith project with another faith, as well as acting for a time as Black Country InterFaith Officer for the PF and the BDO. He was also sub-editor for Pagan Dawn magazine where he also collated the ‘Events’ section, oversaw the Yellow Pages, and edited the ‘Round The Federation’ article. He was office manager for the British Druid Order and editor of ‘Tooth & Claw’ and now transposes those roles with The Druid Network and ‘The Druids Voice’.
