Volunteer Road Verges & Green Spaces Facebook Group Moderator

About Plantlife

Plantlife is the global charity working to protect and restore wild plants and fungi - the foundation of all life on earth. With two in five plant species at risk of extinction, our work has never been more urgent. We work with people and organisations across the UK and beyond to inspire action and create lasting change for nature.

About the role

We are looking for a volunteer to support the day-to-day running of our Road Verges & Green Spaces Facebook group. The Facebook group is an important part of our national, high profile No Mow May campaign each year and is part of our ongoing work with local authorities and communities. The main aim of the Facebook group is to inspire, empower, enable and support local authorities, individual members of the public and community groups to achieve positive change and to celebrate successes. We want to build positive and constructive relationships between Plantlife and councils and encourage positive relationships between councils and their communities. By providing a supportive forum where guidance is available, we will be helping all stakeholders find the best solutions.

We currently have nearly 20,000 members on the group already, and it becomes particularly busy from April to September.

We are looking for a volunteer to support the running of the group all year round, but especially during the busy spring and summer season. The role of moderators is to facilitate new members to join the group, report and reduce antisocial behaviour and comments, direct members to resources when necessary, and direct questions to the relevant members of Plantlife staff. There will be support from Plantlife staff throughout.

Note - In line with GDPR best practice, volunteers who we offer the opportunity to, will be asked to provide details of two suitable referees. Please ensure you have known referees for more than 6 months and they are not a partner, close relative, or Plantlife employee. Former or current work colleagues, friends, and neighbours that have known you for more than 6 months are some examples that would be fine.

Location: Home-based.

Benefits

You will be a valuable part of our Communications Team and will have the support of a dedicated volunteer manager.

Volunteer Manager: Charley Adams, Senior Digital Marketing Officer

Opportunities to gain experience and skills in:

• Using social media as a moderator.
• Working with the general public and Plantlife members.
• Building plant ID knowledge.
• As a volunteer you will have access to Plantlife’s wider programme of member and volunteer events

Key activities

• Regularly (at least 3 times a week) checking the Road Verges Facebook group for outstanding tasks and maintaining a Plantlife presence in the group.
• Admitting new members to the group.
• Interacting with posts using the like function and adding supporting/signposting comments as necessary.
• Occasionally posting pre-prepared Plantlife content to the group and monitoring engagement
• Replying to common questions based on information provided by Plantlife.
• Checking for comments or behaviour which does not adhere to the group's terms of reference, and reporting these to Plantlife staff as needed.
• Liaising with your volunteer manager regularly to update them on your progress and discuss tasks.
• Completing a Plantlife online induction prior to starting your volunteering.
• Keeping a note of your volunteer hours and reporting them to your volunteer manager monthly.
• Attending training and development as necessary relevant to your volunteer task/role.
• Adherence to the Plantlife volunteer agreement, policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Experience skills and interests

• Enjoyment of using social media and interacting with others online.
• Good communication skills.
• Experience using Facebook. It would be an advantage if you have previous experience in moderating a group however, training will be provided on any specific Facebook functions you may need to use.
• Interest in and natural enthusiasm for conservation, wild plants, and fungi, and an affinity with the aims of Plantlife.
• Access to an internet connection, and the use of a device which can connect to Facebook (e.g. computer, tablet, smartphone).

Time commitment

This is an ongoing and flexible role between 1-5 hours per week. This can be done on any day of the week at any time. We would like a volunteer to check the group regularly (at least three times a week).

Expenses

Travel will not be required for this role; however, expenses will be reimbursed for any journeys we asked you to do based on public transport cost or mileage at Plantlife standard rates for volunteers. Expenses must be agreed in advance with your volunteer manager.