Dales Volunteers

Almost all national park authorities have volunteers working with their rangers. Here at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, however, we have gone one step further with our Dales Volunteers network.

Over the years we have realised that our volunteers have a wide range of skills. With Dales Volunteers we seek to make the most of this expertise by involving volunteers in a wide range of projects, which in turn helps our paid officers to achieve so much more than they could achieve alone.

Dales Volunteers provide the majority of the Authority’s voluntary support all year round. With four area teams, a group of Museum Volunteers and the independent Ragged Robin Conservation Group, our network currently totals about 250 people.

Although we expect all Dales Volunteers in the area teams to support our rangers in advising the public on land where there is a right of access, as their first priority, invariably they also manage to ‘mix and match’ a range of activities to suit their own interests.

These can include:

• planning and leading guided walks and events for a variety of different audiences
• carrying out access, heritage, archaeological and other surveys
• practical work on public paths or local nature reserves
• giving talks or demonstrations to school and other groups
• supporting various projects, including the administration of the Dales Volunteers network.
• suggesting new ways in which Dales Volunteers can advance the work of the Authority.

At the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, Museum Volunteers record and conserve artefacts, give demonstrations and assist visitors as required.

All area team Dales Volunteers are asked to commit at least fifteen days of time each year and to attend induction days and a variety of training activities. The National Park Authority provides high quality training, contributions towards travelling expenses and various items of equipment. Fuller details will be provided once you enquire about the scheme.

Read all about what it's like to be a Dales Volunteer by clicking on Meet the Dales Volunteers.

So if you would like to find out more about joining a team of dedicated and highly motivated people who share an enthusiasm for the outdoors and a love of the Yorkshire Dales, please use our Volunteering Enquiry Form or email the Volunteers' Coordinator at our Grassington office. Before you do, please download and read a copy of our latest Volunteering Update.

To view PDFs you will need Acrobat Reader. Download Acrobat Reader (opens in new window)

Occasionally someone offers special skills but does not wish to join the Dales Volunteers scheme. To find out whether we can make use of what you would offer please do get in touch through the channels described above.