Get Involved and Be Part of the Sunnywood Project Team
The Sunnywood Project works for the community, with the community. The organisation is made up of people from a diverse range of backgrounds, professions, and interests.
Below, you'll find information on how you can get involved and make a difference.
Volunteer at
The Sunnywood Project
Whether facilitating a run or a hike, delivering the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or providing meaningful youth provision, the Sunnywood Project relies on a team of dedicated, passionate, and experienced volunteers - we are always looking for like-minded people who love the outdoors and want to make a difference just as much as we do!
If you would like to help or support our events, please have a look at the role descriptions further down this page, and then fill in our Expression of Interest form:
If for whatever reason you require more information, please send an email in to info@thesunnywoodproject.co.uk
Large Event and Family Event Support Volunteers
From Endurance Events to Campfire Tales and more - The Sunnywood Project has regular opportunities throughout the year for folk to come together, get outside, and enjoy something a little different.
In 2024, not only are we running our usual Endurance Events, but there's the Burrs Colour Dash, Sunnywood Fest, and our Unearth Burrs Project supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund.
As either a Large Event of Family Event Support Volunteer (or both!), whether by helping get things set up, pointing people in the right direction as a marshal, or facilitating the experience of those involved, you'll be a valued member of our events team, ensuring a safe and quality experience for all involved.
Volunteer Run / Hike Leader or Facilitator
The Sunnywood Project is passionate about increasing access to the outdoors, facilitating a physically, mentally, and socially healthier lifestyle, and also encouraging people to explore, learn, and grow - It's never 'just a run' or 'just a hike'.
Our runs and hikes encompass everything from 'just starting out' programmes, weekly excursions of maximum 6 miles, and our monthly 'Conquer the Wild' outings, which can be up to 12 miles. We also have Endurance Events throughout the year, empowering people to undertake a supported challenge.
As a Run / Hike Leader or Facilitator, you'll be a valued member of our events team, supporting others on their outdoors journey. And as if that wasn't good enough, all proceeds from these events help maintain the longevity of our youth and community provisions!
Duke of Edinburgh Leader or Helper
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a UK charity that makes a difference to young people’s lives and prepares them for life and work. Over 300,000 young people per year from every possible background take part in DofE programmes to broaden their horizons, develop their leadership skills, learn to work with others, volunteer in their local communities, increase their employability, and prove to themselves they can succeed at a serious challenge.
The Sunnywood Project (TSP) is a non-profit outdoor education and events provider. A proud DofE Licensed Organisation, TSP promotes a love of the great outdoors through a variety of events, conservation and educational programmes stimulating a mentally and physically healthy lifestyle for those living in Bury, Greater Manchester, and surrounding areas.
TSP is uniquely positioned to offer the DofE Award to young people who might otherwise struggle to access the rewarding opportunities it presents, facilitating their journey with support from passionate and empathetic adults skilled in both youthwork and the great outdoors.
DofE Leaders perform a vital role on behalf of the DofE and TSP - They are the adult who is responsible for a DofE group. They lead, guide, and support young people, agree their programme choices and sign off young people’s sections and approve their eDofE evidence.
DofE Helpers assist DofE Leaders in running DofE groups, helping to guide, and support young people in making their programme choices and move towards completion of their award.
Collaborate, Donate, and Update
It takes a lot of time, resources, and money to make a difference.
The Sunnywood Project is a non-profit social enterprise which seeks to be as self-sufficient as possible - Where funding is not available for the provision we know is needed, we seek to raise funds by putting on events and providing commissioned services.
If you want to still make a difference without commiting to a volunteering role, perhaps you could collaborate, donate, or help us update our staff and volunteer training.
Donate
Donations empower us to design and deliver the provision we know is needed or works to those who need it most. In some ways, it is the simplest support folk can show, but in most ways it is also the most impactful.
We also accept donations of gear and equipment, particularly for our DofE programmes where kit can be a huge barrier to access. A new (or mostly new) pair of boots might make all the difference to a young person completing the award and the more equipment we have on-hand, the more young people we can reach.
We accept donations via our donate page below:
Please contact us at info@thesunnywoodproject.co.uk if you wish to make a direct financial donation, contribute gear, or arrange to sponsor a young person's engagement in DofE or any of our other youth provisions.
Collaborate
To date, we have worked with a range of local partners to offer a wide, varied, and impactful provision to our participants, no matter their age.
From local artists, to community groups such as Rammie Anglers, the Big Fandango, the BAME Project and more, and national funders including the National Lottery - We're thankful for all of those who have chosen to help us and get involved.
If you want to reach out and collaborate, please don't hesitate to get in touch and share your ideas.
Update
Our staff and volunteer team work tirelessly to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date, frequently engaging with in-house and external training to ensure their work is effective, safe, and current.
If you feel you could provide us with a chance to update our skills, we'd love to hear from you!
In particular, we're always interested to hear from those who would be willing to offer training/opportunities around:
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First Aid
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Nature and bushcraft skills
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Conservation