About the Role
BCT operates a National Bat Helpline to provide almost 15,000 enquirers a year with easily accessible and accurate information, including getting injured bats to the care they need. The Helpline’s role in advising and supporting people who come into contact with bats is an important part of BCT’s work towards our vision of a world rich in wildlife where bats and people thrive together.
We need your help to provide an excellent service that benefits bat conservation. We are now recruiting volunteers to the Volunteer Bat Care Helpline (VBCH), in which volunteers will answer the bat care calls we receive.
You do not need to have prior experience in conservation to volunteer, as full training and support is provided. Anyone who is interested in helping bats is welcome to apply! Volunteering for the Helpline is a great way to get involved in conservation from the comfort of your home, and we consistently receive feedback from volunteers that it is a very rewarding experience.
Recruitment currently open
As a volunteer on the VBCH, you will answer calls from members of the public who have found grounded, injured or lost bats. You will provide advice on a range of situations and put bat finders in touch with local bat care volunteers where possible.
All you need is:
- A computer/laptop with internet access
- A headset to use with your computer, as phone calls will be received using an internet app on your device
- A phone with reliable reception for contacting support staff where needed
We are looking for volunteers who are:
- Comfortable with using IT/the internet
- Have good record-keeping skills
- Are willing to speak to members of the public about bats and the work of BCT
- Willing to spend additional time reading training materials, as there is a lot to learn!
During each Bat Watch volunteers can expect to help several callers rescue the bat(s) they have found. We hope that volunteers will be able to sign up to 3 Bat Watches per month.
A Bat Watch is up to 3.5 hours (including 30mins break), from 9:30 - 13:00 and 13:00 - 16:30.
Closing date for applications is Thursday the 25th August or once all spaces have been filled.
Volunteers must attend one online training days on either:
- Thursday 7th September
- Tuesday 12th September
Training days will run between 10:30am and 2:30pm with breaks.
We will also be running a technology support session on Friday 9th September.
Volunteers will be ready to start bat watches on Monday 18th September. We hope volunteers will sign up to Bat Watches until May 2024 and there is always the option to continue volunteering after May.
To sign up, please follow the link above to reach BCT’s Better Impact page.
Fill out the application form in the ‘I would like to volunteer’ section.
You will be asked to create a Better Impact account to do this if you do not already have one. After filling in the application form, it will send BCT a notification so that we can review your application and accept you on the project.
If you have any questions, please email helplinevolunteers@bats.org.uk.
This is a voluntary position that supports the work of the Helpline services and is not replacing the work of a paid member of staff. This role description does not form part of any contract of employment. We are unable to take applications from individuals under the age of 18. We welcome applications from a diverse range of applicants.
What have people said about the Volunteer Bat Care Helpline
“It’s a great feeling to play a part in helping a lost or injured bat, and to improve people's awareness of these often-misunderstood animals. I would recommend volunteering on [the Volunteer Bat Care Helpline] to anyone who is considering it.” – volunteer, 2020
“Being able to positively contribute to bat conservation remotely has been amazing. A wonderful chance to help the natural world without leaving home.” – volunteer, 2021
“Sometimes very busy, but a hugely rewarding experience helping to get injured bats rehabilitated and back out into the wild.” – volunteer, 2021
Previous seasons on the Volunteer Bat Care Helpline
The Volunteer Bat Care Helpline has been running as an Out of Hours (OOH) helpline since 2004. In 2021, we introduced and in-office hours element of the volunteer helpline, and the VBCH was launched.
The 2021/2022 VBCH winter season began on 13th September and ran until 29th April. The summer season began on the 3rd May and ran until the 11th of September. Volunteers took a huge 4,938 calls and donated a total of 4,181 hours to bat conservation!
A thank you infographic created to thank our amazing volunteers from this year.
Stats and highlights for previous years can be found in the downloadable documents below:
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