CAT Conversations: Fergus Paxton, CAT volunteer
Share on social
CAT has a long history of offering residential and day volunteering opportunities that give people the chance to develop their skills and support our work. Fergus Paxton joined CAT’s Marketing and Fundraising teams as a volunteer earlier this summer. We talked to him about his experience.
Q: Hi Fergus. Tell us a bit about yourself and why you chose to volunteer at CAT.
I’m currently a second-year International Relations and Politics student at Bath Spa University. I’ve always cared about the environment, attending climate protests and trying my best to practise a low-impact lifestyle and make green choices, so CAT has been an organisation that interested me. I grew up in the local area and since visiting CAT as a child I’ve always been curious about the work the organisation does.
I wanted to gain some skills and experience while doing something I cared about. CAT’s reputation as a pioneering environmental organisation aligned with my core values and interests. Recently, my interest in the environment has grown with the increasingly damning reports frequently being published by scientists and researchers about the state of our planet. These have provided me with the motivation to try and make an impact and address the climate and nature emergency in what I do next.
Volunteering at CAT seemed like a good way to enter the environmental sector and begin my longer-term career ambitions.
Q: What kind of work have you been involved with during your volunteering?
While volunteering with the Marketing and Fundraising teams, I’ve been involved in everything from writing up recent graduate stories for the website and social media to supporting market research and competitor analysis for the Graduate School.
Living locally during this time, I’ve been able to dedicate three or four days a week to CAT, so I’ve also been getting stuck in with office tasks, helping out with data entry for donations and memberships and updating online content. I’ve also been promoting CAT’s work to the many different pre-booked groups who have been visiting over the last two months.
Q: What have you learnt during your experience? And how do you think it will help you in the future?
I’ve learnt a lot with the Marketing and Fundraising teams. I had no prior experience and few expectations of what it would be like. To begin with, I was naïve to the impact and importance of marketing and fundraising in CAT’s mission, vision and values. I’ve gained a holistic understanding of the organisation and how the Marketing and Fundraising teams support so many of CAT’s activities. I’ve also learnt a lot about other areas of CAT’s work, including the Zero Carbon Britain Hub and Innovation Labs, as the teams work across the organisation.
Q: You’ve really been a great help to the teams over the last few months, Fergus. What have you enjoyed most?
During my time volunteering, I was able to attend a short course. I chose one of the MSc module teaching weeks, which was also offered as a short course called Transformational International Energy Management. This allowed me to experience a totally different aspect of CAT’s work, getting to join students on their learning journeys.
Being taught by guest lectures and learning from case studies alongside group work helped me to really understand the subject. I enjoyed the week and found myself thinking more about the green energy transition and its implications for societies around the world.
Q: Finally, what do you plan to do next?
After this, I’ll take some time off to prepare for my final year of university and my dissertation. In the longer term, my volunteering here has had an impact on me more broadly and on what I might do after university. Not only will it boost my CV for future employment in similar environmental organisations and charities but being involved with CAT has made me realise what I’d like out of a future workplace – a friendly environment where you’re working towards a just cause.
I would highly recommend volunteering at CAT – whether residential or on a day-to-day basis like me – both for developing skills for future employment and the experience of doing a variety of work for the organisation. It gives you a great chance to learn and be part of the CAT community, meeting new and interesting people along the way.
Want to volunteer at CAT?
Alongside our residential six-month volunteer positions, we are currently welcoming regular day volunteers to support our Woodlands, Gardens and Fundraising teams. Take a look at the volunteering opportunities available at cat.org.uk/volunteer or contact Holly Owen, Volunteering Manager, at volunteering@cat.org.uk.
EMAIL SIGN UP
Keep up to date with all the latest activities, events and online resources by signing up to our emails and following us on social media. And if you'd like to get involved and support our work, we'd love to welcome you as a CAT member.