Raven Montague, Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Trainee Communities Assistant
Hello, my name is Raven, and I work in a trainee position here at Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) and I aim to bring a better awareness for nature and people alongside the community. Groups with like-minded goals aiming to bring people together; for a bright and greener future for all.
I first saw the advertisement for Trainee Communities Assistant being promoted on Indeed by the Wildlife Trust! A job helping wildlife and people! As I read on, I truly felt some hope this was something perfect for me and promoted things that I valued.
As I had reached the end of the ‘Job Pack’, however, I felt my excitement waiver. The very thing I dread to read as it fell on almost every job description advertised, ‘a driving license’ my heart sank, I didn’t feel like I had any chance at all once I saw those all-too-common words. I wouldn’t have read on had Angela from the Women’s Workshop not been helping me, I'd have given up the very thought of applying, but then, ‘is highly beneficial for this role.’ I had a chance? A shock to read given the familiarity and hopelessness of ‘Driver's license mandatory’.
Maybe I had a chance after all. Imagine to my surprise when the email came through, invitation for interview! Woo!
Painted stones left around Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre after a visit from Children North East. Photo by Raven Montague.
I will be working alongside a highly skilled Communities Officer named Tash. As a trainee I will be doing my best to learn as much as possible during my time here, surrounded by the song of Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, I will be assisting and learning through the running of community events.
Further, training courses and supportive interactions with the nearby coastal communities of Northumberland are just a few of the things I will be looking forwards to in the near future.
Updating my adventures within the trust, I hope to show:
Providing some insight into what it is like to work with NWT for the first time, I will be noting down my own personal experience with the Trust, and how it may be possible to keep going forwards in the direction of conservation or similar roles.
I have enjoyed supporting the running of multiple events while also learning in the meantime how to use a program called ‘GIS’ to map out the local communities of Northumberland's coast. We hope to visit as many communities as we can in time. I can’t wait to learn how we can help local groups along the coast with the joys of involving or improving nature for wildlife.
Creating fun posters, presentations, fun nature inspired quizzes, taking pictures of local wildlife and most importantly sharing the joy in making sure everyone that has visited an event has had a fun time, left with a smile and a little extra knowledge about nature. These are just a few of my experiences here thus far; very appreciated and greatly enjoyed experiences here so far.
Deer and bird footprints in the mud at West Chevington Nature Reserve. Photo by Raven Montague.
It has been exciting to map nearby communities, my eyes have opened to many groups that I previously didn’t know we had. Communities held at the heart of each coastal town and village. We hope to see you all soon and bring everyone's attention toward the good your communities do out there, what people can do to help you out and further learn what it is that is needed or wanted. To make sure the northeast becomes an improved place to live in. Hopefully we can share with you, all the splendid nature around us, and how we can still do what we enjoy co-existing with our wildlife.
More to come including fun events past & future, about me, wildlife encounters, how you can enjoy nature more, meeting with the communities, making the world a better place for wildlife, etc...
