Community Engagement Trainee

Eden Rivers Trust; Penrith; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Eden Rivers Trust is seeking a 12-month paid training placement in conservation and/or community engagement, starting Autumn/winter 2026. The role focuses on planning and delivering community events and volunteer activities across the Eden catchment, including practical conservation work and public campaigns.

You will gain experience leading guided wellbeing walks, communicating environmental topics to diverse audiences, and travelling to sites around the catchment.

Qualifications

• Confident communicator able to make environmental topics accessible to audiences of all ages.
• Enjoys working outdoors and engaging with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Able to travel to sites around the catchment and hold a current UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Support planning and delivery of community events and volunteer work parties across the Eden catchment.
• Organise and occasionally lead guided wellbeing walks.
• Get involved in public campaigns such as Check, Clean, Dry and the Big Balsam Bash.
• Travel to sites around the catchment as required.

Job description

Are you starting out or looking to switch into a career in conservation?Are you outgoing and like working with people?Do you have a flair for delivering engaging, creative learning experiences with young people and/or adults that break down barriers to accessing rivers and nature?If so, our placement role as a Community Engagement Trainee could be for you!

Posted on

02/09/2026

Closing Date

05/10/2026

£24,784.50 per annum pro rata (living wage)

Contract

Paid placement: 12-month fixed-term contract; 4 or 5 days per week.

Location

Penrith

About the role

This is a 12-month paid training placement starting in Autumn/winter 2026 and is designed to be a launch pad for someone at the beginning of their career in conservation and/or community engagement.

Working alongside our team, you will gain practical experience supporting the planning and delivery of community events and volunteer work parties across the Eden catchment - including practical conservation activities, and you will organise and occasionally lead guided wellbeing walks and get involved in our public campaigns to stop the spread of invasive non-native species through ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ and the Big Balsam Bash.

You will be a confident communicator with the ability to make environmental and scientific topics accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. You will enjoy working outdoors, engaging with people from different backgrounds, and inspiring others to care for and protect local waterways.

The role requires regular travel to sites around the catchment so you will need to have a current, full UK driving licence.

About us

Eden Rivers Trust is the conservation charity standing up for Eden’s rivers; changing perceptions of rivers, enhancing and protecting the river environment so that people and nature in Cumbria can thrive.

Our vision is clean and healthy rivers, providing a brighter future for all. Since 1996, we have worked with partners, volunteers, and communities to restore rivers, improve habitats, promote natural flood management, support water-friendly farming, and increase access to nature.

As a Trust we are Rethinking rivers. For good.

Deadline for applications: 9 am, Monday, 05 October, 2026.

Interviews are planned for the week beginning 12 October 2026.