Volunteer at Lancashire's beautiful wetland centre

WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Lancashire is on the search for new people to join its friendly volunteering team.

If you'd like to work in a beautiful, 600-acre wetland, which is also home to species from around the world such as flamingos, otters, and white storks; then the centre is asking you to attend their Volunteering Week.

Volunteering Week takes place from 24 February to 1 March with drop in sessions available each day 1; 3pm for those wanting to find out more.

Anyone can come along to the drop in sessions, with no registration required. It's a great opportunity to meet the team, learn about the range of volunteering roles available, and what will suit you.

The centre will also host a daily guided walk at:- 2pm, each day, so those interested in volunteering can find out more about the site.

There are a range of opportunities available, from helping to keep the living collection and reserve in tip top condition, to welcoming visitors as they come into the centre. Additionally, Martin Mere is on the search for 2 brand new volunteering roles, face painter and storyteller. Volunteer roles include:-

• Canoe safari
  

• Education
  

• Face painter
  

• Living collection & gardening
  

• Guide in the hide
  

• Maintenance
  

• Membership and retail
  

• Reserve
  

• Storyteller
  

• Weekend family activities
  

• Welcome team

Gary Gray, volunteer at WWT Martin Mere, said:- "I volunteer at Martin Mere once a week, helping out on the visitor information desk. This involves meeting and greeting our visitors and providing them with all of the information on what's on on the day of their visit. I like interacting with people and passing on my knowledge to them. It's always memorable seeing the joy on children's faces when they visit. It makes you see how valuable your time volunteering here is."



If you would like to enquire about any of these roles, you can find out more about via the website.

Do you know someone who deserves locking up; and all for a great cause?

THE 1st ever Jail and Bail event in Southport was a huge success in 2023, with 12 community minded:- ‘inmates' agreeing to be:- ‘jailed' as they raised over £26,000 for Queenscourt Hospice.

Our ‘dirty dozen' included:- business owners, headteachers, nurses, restaurateurs, Queenscourt colleagues, and a popular local DJ:- Adrian Antell; Vici Bradshaw; Daniel Doherty; Helen Hurst; Debbie Lawson; David Lloyd; Andrew Robertson; Rob Smallman; Kate Sutcliffe;

Chetan and Prabtosh Thekkar; Baz Todd; and Chris Upton MBE.

They ‘stood trial' in the former Southport Magistrates Court (now Access Point) before local Police Officers ‘locked them up' in the custody suite at Southport Police Station next door.

They then completed a number of challenges at venues around Southport.

Event organisers Queenscourt Hospice and Stand Up For Southport are now appealing for 12 new ‘jailbirds' to take part in the 2024 Jail and Bail event, which will take place between:- 10am and 3pm, on:- Friday, 7 June 2024.

Queenscourt Hospice Fundraising Manager Liz Hartley said:- "If our new jailbirds are found guilty of their 'wicked and entirely fictional crimes'; which they inevitably will!; they will be taken into custody, photographed and banished to the cells. They will only be released if they can raise bail of £999 from their connections, including friends, family and colleagues. Jail and Bail was a really fun event to take part in last year, and we would love to see people from across Formby, Southport or West Lancashire to come and join us this year. So if you'd like to lock up your boss get in touch to nominate them for this fully immersive experience"

Stand up For Southport Director Andrew Brown said:- "We were blown away by the success of last year's Jail and Bail fundraiser! We would like to thank our 12 ‘inmates' who were amazing on the day. Lots of local businesses also teamed up with us to ensure it went so well. This is such a fun way to raise funds for a local charity which does a vital job in supporting so many patients and their loved ones across our area. Please get in touch with us if you'd like to hear any more details about Jail and Bail."

For more details or to register your interest please email Queenscourt Hospice Liz Hartley, Fundraising Manager at:- Fundraising@Queenscourt.Org.UK.

For more news about the work of Queenscourt Hospice, please visit:- Queenscourt.Org.UK.