[T]he Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) is recruiting volunteers for the first time in three years.
Nineteen new ‘Dales Volunteers’ are being sought to carry out tasks such as surveying, maintaining and enhancing the public rights of way network in the Park.
There are vacancies in each of the three area-based ranger teams, covering the south (Craven/Lancashire), north (Richmondshire) and west (Cumbria) of the Park.
People will be asked to make a significant commitment and full training will be provided. The closing date for applications is Sunday the 14th of January.
Mark Allum, Head of Access and Engagement at the YDNPA, said: “Dales Volunteers are crucial to the Authority. Last year, for instance, they provided invaluable assistance in the re-building of Fisherman’s Bridge near Sedbergh, in the parish paths survey, in the resurfacing of part of the Roman Road near Hawes, and in many other projects.
“At the moment we have 166 Dales Volunteers who carry out a wide range of work, from listed buildings surveys to museum research. In this recruitment campaign, however, all the vacancies are within the area-based ranger teams. We’re looking for six new Dales Volunteers to join the southern team, five to join the northern team and eight to join the western team.
“We’ve given as much detail as we can about the availability requirements in the hope that we can attract people of all ages, including those in full time work. We are also recruiting to specific roles so that we might attract people who have particular skills and interests. That said, a keen interest in the countryside remains the main requirement for Dales Volunteers.”
Former Dales Volunteers have backed the new recruitment campaign, which went live online just before Christmas.
On the YDNPA Facebook page, Dilys Williamson wrote: “It is well worth the effort to volunteer. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it and got more out than we put in. We met lots of lovely people, it kept us fit and we got to know new parts of the Dales and learnt so much about the countryside and conservation.”
Simon Backhouse said: “I did it for 16 years but had to give up for work commitments. It’s well worth doing and very rewarding. You meet so many people and learn so much.”
The full link to the recruitment page is here: http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/looking-after/how-you-can-help/volunteering/applying-to-join-dales-volunteers
