SWT was formed in 1961, and is now the largest local organisation dedicated to protecting the wildlife and natural environment across Sussex.
We are a conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in Sussex. We focus on protecting the wonderfully rich natural life that is found across our towns, countryside and coast.
We want our Sussex to be a home for nature’s recovery. A place where people and wildlife can thrive together, where people can enjoy nature and the health and wellbeing benefits it provides.
We believe nature is too important to lose.
By working alongside local people, we create opportunities for us all to connect with nature, and for nature to thrive in even the most unlikely places.
Together we can make sure that future generations living in Sussex will be able to enjoy the sense of wonder and well-being that nature offers.
Together we can make Sussex life richer.
What Do We Do?
- We manage over 35 nature reserves across Sussex that people can explore and enjoy.
- We act to protect the wildlife and the natural environment across Sussex.
- We create opportunities for people of all ages to learn about nature and connect with it.
- We inspire people through our events, publications and courses to care for nature.
- We conduct research that supports the conservation of nature in Sussex.
- We engage with policy makers and other organisations to encourage positive change for nature’s recovery.
The Wildlife Trust Movement
- There are 46 individual Wildlife Trusts in the UK.
- Each Trust is an independent charity but we all share a vision of people close to nature in land and seas rich in wildlife.
- Every Wildlife Trust is a member of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, a registered charity in its own right founded in 1912.
- We work closely with The Wildlife Trusts in many areas – for example there are many groups and forums to join relating to all the different areas of work within the movement.
Strategic Plan – ‘Our Wild Sussex’
Our Values
- Passion.
- Inclusion.
- Collaboration.
- Innovation.
Our values are central to how we work together internally and with others externally.
They form the basis or a Framework called SWT Together – this sets out the expectations on everyone in the team and what everyone can expect in return.
Wild About Inclusion
Our Vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Wildlife Trusts believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of wildlife in their daily lives, and we are committed to putting equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our organisation and our growing movement for nature.
Our vision of a wilder future for all goes hand in hand with the creation of a diverse organisation that reflects the communities that we serve. The differences of thought, skills, ideas and experience brought by a diverse team of staff and volunteers will be invaluable in tackling the future challenges faced by nature and wildlife.
However, we recognise that our workforce needs to better reflect the communities in which we live and work, and we are currently not doing as well as we would like to attract diversity within our workforce. Nature conservation is currently one of the least diverse professions in the UK and we must do far better to encourage and inspire people of all backgrounds to join our team.
Where We Are Now
Today our gender, disability and sexuality diversity is good within the Trust.
We do, however, recognise that there is much work to be done on improving representation in other areas, particularly with regards to age and ethnic and racial diversity across our volunteer base, staff body and trustees. We are not as diverse as we want to be, or that nature needs us to be. It is our goal to work towards an inclusive and diverse Council, with the right blend of strategic insight, personal skills and relevant professional experience.
We have successfully delivered paid traineeships and apprenticeships over a number of years, as a means to access employment in the sector. We are now working on a equality, diversity and inclusion strategy to take a more proactive approach to the issue.
Our Commitments
We are committed to ensuring we reflect and represent all parts of society by improving access to jobs and training opportunities for groups currently under represented in our sector.
We are committed to ensuring a working environment in which all individuals are free from discrimination and in which opportunities are equal to all.
We encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly those underrepresented within our sector, including people from Black, Asian, minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.
We are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.