New Forest National Park Volunteer Fair returns

PUBLISHED ON: 15 JANUARY 2024

The New Forest National Park Volunteer Fair will take place this month and aims to encourage young people to take action on climate and nature through volunteering.

The ever-popular event is back on 28 January 2024, and will be held between 10.30am-4pm at Brockenhurst Village Hall. Entry is free, and everyone is welcome to browse over 40 stands and find out more about the fantastic opportunities on offer.

There are lots of benefits to volunteering, including being active, learning new skills and feeling good about helping others. Roles range from heritage conservation to working with rare wildlife, helping people in the community, and practical opportunities within a host of natural habitats.

New for this year, the New Forest National Park Authority’s education and youth team will be running free workshops for students and young professionals aged 13-30 to explore how volunteering can help them on their green career paths.

There will be two sessions, one aimed at 13-17 year-olds to explore how they can make a difference to nature through volunteering. The other is for 18-30s with a greater focus on green careers. The workshops will welcome young people to discuss how their interests can become volunteering opportunities and then explore what the Fair has to offer. More information about these sessions and how to book can be found on the NPA website.

The workshops are part of the Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) project, a £1.4 million climate action scheme to connect young people in the New Forest and surrounding areas to nature and green career opportunities.

A busy village hall during the New Forest National Park Volunteer Fair 2023. Photo taken from high up looking down at three rows of stall holders and lots of people talking to the exhibitors and one another. Some are holding leaflets and handouts from the various volunteer opportunities.

Fair organiser Jim Mitchell, from the New Forest National Park Authority, said: ‘As well as connecting you with the New Forest’s landscapes and people, volunteering offers huge health and wellbeing benefits too. You can give as much or as little time as you like, and you’ll be fully supported with training and equipment.

‘People of all backgrounds and abilities can get involved and every volunteer has their own story to tell about what they have gained from volunteering and what they have given to the Forest.

‘The Fair has a wonderful atmosphere, and we’re looking forward to welcoming people of all ages and sharing the wonderful opportunities on offer across the New Forest.’

For more information and the full list of exhibitors, go to www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/volunteerfair