We’re recruiting for Somerset Nature Connections Project Officers

If you value how nature can provide a positive impact on our physical and mental health and have experience of connecting people with nature to help improve wellbeing, then one of three Project Officer roles might be for you!

Somerset Nature Connections is a partnership project between Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Blackdown Hills, Mendip Hills and Quantock Hills Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

One part-time role (22.5 hours per week) will be based in the Mendip Hills AONB (near Cheddar) with access to Somerset Wildlife Trust and the AONB Unit’s offices.

Please visit the Somerset Wildlife Trust website to view all three roles and to apply by Wednesday 18th November 2020.

Somerset Nature Connections is a new project that will embed nature-based wellbeing skills at the heart of Somerset’s communities to provide long-term support for its most vulnerable. The Mendip Hills AONB Unit is delighted to be a partner on this three-year, £500,000 project. The project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, Hinkley Point C Community Fund, Discovery Community Fund, Somerset County Council’s Prevention Fund, South Somerset District Council and Somerset County Council Public Health.

The project will support local communities and individuals most vulnerable to mental health issues, providing better access to nature spaces to encourage and increase self-management for individuals, and develop a network of skilled volunteers who can support communities for the longer term. For more information, please click here.

Kristen Lambert, Somerset Nature Connections Project Manager, said: “We are really looking forward to recruiting the rest of the team over the next few months so that this project can begin to provide a valuable service to help local people directly and assist local community groups to better support those they work with. Access to nature can be a powerful tool for helping people learn new skills, gain confidence, relax, communicate with others and be present – which can all help to manage and improve mental health and wellbeing.”