Volunteering: Adapting to changing times

We know that how people give time is changing, as research from NCVO shows. To achieve an expanding network of over 2,000 volunteers across over 40 local CPREs, plus volunteers at national level, we’ve increased the variety of roles we offer, to attract people from younger and more diverse backgrounds.

We have recently been celebrating the growth, impact and power of our volunteer movement as we reflect on 2024.

Here a few of the ways CPRE has been attracting new people to volunteer.

Micro volunteering

Nationally, we recruited over 100 Online Campaigns Activists. They championed our work before the 2024 General Election. We launched this flexible, remote role to encourage younger and more diverse voices. These voices were heard on environmental issues like climate change and the Green Belt.

Our activists played a crucial role in building momentum around CPRE’s campaigns. They completed quick and easy actions at times that suited them. Online activist Jacky Lee Roberts, 21, said: ‘I was attracted by the prospect of engaging with my local MP.’ He supported meaningful initiatives and enjoyed engaging fellow students in CPRE’s manifesto. He also shared key pledges with local parliamentary candidates.

Biodiversity and climate change in planning

We believe it’s essential for individuals and communities to feel empowered to address countryside issues like the climate emergency. CPRE North and East Yorkshire developed a Climate Change Research Volunteer role. This ensures local authorities prioritise the climate emergency in their planning responses. One volunteer researcher, Rosalind Cooper, 22, said, ‘It’s important biodiversity and climate change aren’t forgotten in development.’ She added, ‘there are landscapes you can’t replicate if you build over them.’ Rosalind examines local council plans and highlights policies protecting biodiversity and climate change. She holds local authorities accountable for following their own guidance. You can read Rosalind’s full story and hear from more younger volunteers here.

In early 2024, CPRE Oxfordshire recruited three Student Planning Ambassadors. The students from Oxford Brookes University gained planning experience by reviewing local development planning applications.

Practical volunteering and citizen science

Traditionally known for our planning volunteering roles (which remain popular!), we have increased opportunities for outdoor hands-on activities.

CPRE’s Hedgerow Heroes project has enabled thousands of volunteers across England to plant and restore hedgerows. Phase three was successfully completed in early 2024, involving nine of our county groups. CPRE Oxfordshire demonstrates how many volunteers participated in their planting days in this showreel. (Video credit: CPRE Oxfordshire and Wild Oxfordshire)

Meanwhile, CPRE Shropshire connected with the Youngwilders to expand their volunteer network and engage new, younger audiences. (Video credit: CPRE Shropshire and the Youngwilders. Film maker: Robin Fellows-Weir)

The next phase of Hedgerow Heroes is already underway, and volunteers across eight counties are continuing this vital work. We aim to see a 40% increase in hedgerows by 2050. Each mile we help plant or restore contributes to this target.

One participating group, CPRE Warwickshire, demonstrated how practical volunteer roles can attract great new partnerships. They’ve welcomed corporate volunteers from Severn Trent Green Power to their hedge-planting days. Volunteers shared their experiences in this video. (Video credit: Stuart Kidman, Severn Trent Green Power)

CPRE Hampshire’s new project aims to tackle nature and climate emergencies by restoring chalk grassland areas in the county. Ecologist Rachel Remnant equips volunteers with new skills using traditional techniques like haymaking, as seen here: Magnificent Meadows. This project aims to tackle nature and climate emergencies by restoring chalk grassland areas in the county. Ecologist Rachel Remnant equips volunteers with new skills using traditional techniques like haymaking, as seen here. (Video credit: CPRE Hampshire)

CPRE Herefordshire’s award-winning Dark Skies Project sees volunteers measuring and mapping light pollution levels across the county at night. They also have a large team of Citizen Scientist volunteers involved in stopping river pollution in the River Wye catchment. They test water samples and share data to ensure local action is taken.

Over 250 volunteers support CPRE Somerset’s impactful 2-minute litter pick project, aiming for a cleaner countryside for everyone. The project has recently received a fantastic funding boost, allowing expansion of their litter-picking army in 2025. This support will continue to empower young litter superstars across Somerset.

Stepping stones to other opportunities

We’ve covered just a small proportion of over 60 volunteer roles at CPRE, which range from governance and fundraising to communicating the impact of our work.

The new, flexible roles we’ve highlighted in this article can act as a stepping stone for volunteers to progress onto other roles with us, for example in more specialist research, policy or planning roles. We recently heard from a Trustee at CPRE Leicestershire, Rahoul Naik, who shares about why he’s so passionate about his role. (Video credit: CPRE, Mia Foord)

We’ve even seen some of our volunteer’s move into paid positions, which was the case for a National CPRE volunteer who supported us with an IT database project in 2024. The contribution of our CPRE volunteers showcased here provides just a glimpse of the meaningful difference they make in their communities and for our countryside. We’re looking forward to seeing the strength and collective power of our CPRE volunteer network grow even further in 2025 and beyond.

There is still plenty to do – our focus for 2025 will be on improving volunteer experience once people are in role, in particular how we connect with, train and support volunteers at CPRE.

Get in touch!

The countryside continues to face many challenges and opportunities, so it’s never been a better time to join our friendly, inclusive and impactful volunteer movement for the protection, promotion and enhancement of our countryside and communities.

Volunteers are at the heart of our charity, and we love to share what we’ve been doing and keep learning from other charities experiences. Please do take a look at our current volunteering opportunities or get in touch with our volunteering team if you’d like to connect and explore any of the ideas mentioned here.