Careers

Become a Golden Supporter

Working for us

Do you care enough about local and global environmental problems to make your career part of the solution? Would you like to be part of the biggest and most influential environmental campaigning network in the world? Then we'd like to meet you!

Friends of the Earth is an international network campaigning on issues affecting the environment at international, national and local level. It aims to inspire solutions to environmental problems, which make life better for people.

Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland (EWNI) is:

• The UK's most influential national environmental campaigning organisation;
  
• Part of the most extensive environmental network in the world, with almost one million supporters across 5 continents and 68 national organisations worldwide;
  
• A unique network of campaigning local groups, working in over 200 communities throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland;
• Largely funded by our supporters. Donations from the public make up 90% of Friends of the Earth's income, the remaining 10% coming from special fundraising events, grants and trading.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth
Birmingham Friends of the Earth is a local group under licence to Friends of the Earth EWNI, campaigning on a local level on issues affecting communities across the city. See our newsletter archive and press releases for details.

We work with schools as well as local communities to raise awareness about what people can do to protect and improve their environment. We run activities at local events like Discovery Day and provide people with up to date information at our resource centre at The Warehouse in Digbeth.

Job opportunities
At Birmingham Friends of the Earth we run a small campaigns office with one full time campaigner/project support worker, a building and information manager and a building maintenance assistant. We can also provide help and support to raise funds for other projects - working with specific communities for example, or extra campaigns work. Friends of the Earth EWNI employ about 140 staff. They have a national office in London and a number of smaller regional offices. They do not have a formal graduate recruitment programme but you can find details about all the latest job vacancies and the skills and qualifications required at www.foe.co.uk/press_for_change/jobs/

Skills and Qualifications
To reflect the variety of opportunities Birmingham Friends of the Earth can offer you, the range of skills and qualifications we might ask for is diverse and flexible. Most people do have a degree when they come to work or volunteer for us, but subjects range from environmental science to law, finance, business, languages, and IT.

Other skills which are always useful are the ability to "muck in" with whatever job needs doing, good "people skills" to work with volunteers and community groups, and the ability to use your own initiative. What's more important than your formal education is your attitude - you need enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. If you share our commitment and want a challenge, then get in touch and find out what we can offer you!

Volunteering
Birmingham Friends of the Earth is volunteer-led, which means that most of the work is done by unpaid staff! Volunteering can provide you with great experience of the world of work in a relaxed environment, and give you that crucial break in the "no experience/no job" cycle…. But most of all it's great fun! Below is a list of some of the jobs done by volunteers at the moment: Campaigning; Research (we also provide information for research students through our resource room); Press and Media; Youth Work; Reception; Building Maintenance; IT; Librarian.

We also offer work placements for "gap year" students and people on government New Deal schemes - contact us for more information.

Careers
The unique knowledge and experience gained at Birmingham Friends of the Earth leads to a wide range of career opportunities. Previous employees and volunteers have gone on to employment in organisations as diverse as the Community Recycling Network and the Highways Agency, as well as in local authorities, the wider business sector and voluntary organisations throughout the UK and beyond. They have also become teachers, solicitors, university lecturers, freelance consultants, administrators and journalists.

So I'm interested - what do I do next?

Contact Dave Clare at:
Birmingham Friends of the Earth
The Warehouse
54-57 Allison Street
Digbeth
B5 5TH

Tel: 0121 632 6909
Fax: 0121 643 3122
Email: info@birminghamfoe.org.uk

We aim to respond to all enquiries within two working days but if you havn't heard from us by then please call 0121 632 6909 or include a contact number in your message - email isn't always 100% reliable!