Volunteering holidays in Wales

Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre offer seasonal volunteers opportunities to help them contribute towards marine conservation. Work could include surveying, collecting data and researching mammals Volunteers will be required to pay for accommodation, living costs and travel, although shared same gender accommodation can be arranged.

Award winning Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth, Mid Wales is a world-leading Eco Centre that demonstrates and showcases practical solutions for a sustainable future.

CAT offer residential short and long term volunteering opportunities where successful applicants will live on site and help in the gardens or woodlands and waters. Volunteer days are also offered to helping manage the beautiful woodlands or wildlife friendly gardens. It is a great opportunity to meet other international volunteers.

Visit the Centre for Alternative Technology website to read about the volunteering opportunities and to make an enquiry.

Working holidays are run by the Waterway Recovery Group. Volunteers can help the Inland Waterways Association on a number of jobs to assist with canal restoration. Although there is a small fee to pay, meals, accommodation and transfers from the local station are provided. Register for opportunities, request a brochure or contact WRG.

Located in North Pembrokeshire in the Preseli Hills, Lammas Ecovillage explores sustainable living. Requests can be made using their contact form. Successful candidates will need to provide their own accommodation. Placements can be for up to a month or a long term placement can be requested.

A wide range of working holidays are available, from short breaks to volunteering holidays. Some of the activities that can be done while volunteering include gardening, looking after historic houses, beach cleaning and archaeology. The majority of the holidays take part in the Snowdonia and Llŷn Peninsula area, however there are a few in Gower as well as Mid and South Wales. A working holiday includes accommodation, food and local transfers. For more information, visit the National Trust website.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) offers residential volunteering for anyone who wishes to try something new. There are many RSPB Sites around Wales, offering work such as managing a nature reserve as well as practical conservation including clearing vegetation, managing livestock and staffing visitor centre. Accommodation is provided.

A range of volunteering opportunities can be applied for to help the Trust protect wildlife and become involved in vital work to preserve the natural world. At the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales, there are a range of volunteer days throughout the region to assist with management and maintenance. There are also long term volunteering positions on Skomer Island which become available.

There are also opportunities to become a volunteer at North Wales Wildlife Trust. They include conservation work, wildlife gardening and weekly conservation volunteering on nature reserves, Register online with the Trust.

The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) run a number of residential and non-residential placements which run for between two and eight weeks, working in hostels on the coast, city or country. Tasks include waiting at tables, housekeeping and reception duties. Working holiday opportunities include painting and ground and garden maintenance. Bespoke group volunteering experiences can also be arranged. Accommodation and travel expenses are provided for residential stays and working holidays. Register or search for opportunities on their website. For more information, contact the YHA volunteering team.