Make a New Year's res-ZOO-lution!

Make a New Year’s res-ZOO-lution!

A local charity is calling on people to make a New Year’s res-ZOO-lution to help wildlife. The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, which runs Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and Living Coasts in Torquay, is looking for volunteers to talk to visitors, entertain children and help raise money for conservation projects.

Among the roles volunteers can take on is that of zoo mascot. Volunteer co-ordinator Stephanie Robey said: “At Paignton Zoo there’s Cuba the Crocodile and Gus the Gorilla, while Living Coasts has Mac the Penguin and Oli the Otter. Children love the characters and they are a great way of engaging with people.”

In addition, Paignton Zoo is looking for more volunteers to help in the gardens and to act as Visitor Experience Guides. Stephanie explained: “Last summer we had volunteer guides in Amphibian Ark. They talked to visitors, highlighted our conservation projects and pointed out species that were hard to spot. The idea was so successful that in 2012 we hope to expand it to include Reptile Tropics and Crocodile Swamp.”

Stephanie knows just how important volunteers are to the charity. “Volunteers are incredibly valuable to us both in the roles they fill and in the amount of time they give. We have 115 volunteers at Paignton Zoo and another 38 at Living Coasts. In the 12 months to the end of October 2011, volunteers clocked up 21,465 hours at the two sites – an increase of 13% on the previous year."

“If you apply the National Minimum Wage to those hours then volunteers were worth £130,548 to the charity this year. Most of our volunteers have been professional people, so the skills they bring to this organisation are worth a lot more.

“Volunteers don’t replace paid staff or do the work of paid staff, but their contribution is like having 11 extra full-time members of staff.” In addition, volunteers helped raise £81,067 at the two sites.

The charity has a wide range of volunteer tasks available, including grounds-keeping, adult education, helping with school groups, fundraising, helping visitors, making badges, administration, data entry, answering telephone queries and assisting with events. Some animal related tasks are also available, including general food preparation and cleaning public viewing windows.

Stephanie: “Volunteering keeps people active mentally and physically, it keeps you focused, helps you meet new people and makes use of your skills. It’s also good for you - studies have shown that those who volunteer live longer, healthier, and more satisfying lives!”

If you are interested in volunteering at Paignton Zoo or Living Coasts, apply to volunteering@paigntonzoo.org.uk, call in and pick up a form from the information desk or go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or www.livingcoasts.org.uk.