Support Us

There are 5 ways you can support WATER

Become a Member of WATER

Have your say, and support our vital work for your local river.

Gain unique insights into the Erme and our work to restore it.
Wild About The Erme River (WATER) is registered with the Charity Commission as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation).

As a Member of WATER you would be entitled to attend and vote at the Charity’s AGM in line with our constitution. In addition, we offer Members the opportunity to meet on two other occasions each year, starting from January 2026.

Guided river walks. These will be to parts of the river not usually accessible to the public, but which provide valuable insights into the inter-connected relationship between the landscape and the river. Such landscapes may hold unique eco-systems and valuable habitats for wildlife; features that will be explained by your guide.

Members Summer Gathering is an informal ‘Bring & Share’ picnic or barbecue event for members and their families in a private location. This is an opportunity for Members to meet some of the WATER team, talk about your particular topics of interest and meet like- minded people from the catchment community who share your concern for our local river.

It also provides us with an opportunity to hear of your experiences when enjoying time in the remarkable landscape that makes up the Erme’s catchment.

Membership is just £20 per year, paid by Direct Debit. As a Member, you are automatically enrolled on our mailing list to receive our quarterly Newsletter and occasional mailings about events or local volunteering activities.

become a member here

Register as a volunteer

Volunteers are vital to many of our activities in the field. We welcome volunteers of all ages. Children must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult to ensure their safety. Some activities are unsuitable for children.

To register your interest as a volunteer please complete the contact details below and indicate which types of activity appeal to you. Thanks for offering to help us.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Mobile Phone

Postcode (so we know roughly where in the catchment area you are)(Required)

ZIP / Postal Code

I am interested in volunteering for:(Required)

River Cleans

Culling non-native invasive species (like Himalayan Balsam)

Field work, (such as hedge or tree planting, building leaky dams or creating wetlands)

Helping at events

Apply for a team vacancy

Our work on the Erme is expanding significantly. To maintain our momentum we need to recruit new members to the core team. If you have the time and skills we are looking for please consider talking to us about a team member role. All out team are volunteers.

We are currently looking to fill the following roles. Click on the links below for details of each role and who to contact.

Volunteer role reporting to: Chair

Overview
The Treasurer is a key role within our charity’s governance team. The Treasurer takes a lead on financial oversight, ensuring the charity remains financially sustainable and compliant with relevant UK charity legislation and accounting standards. Working closely with the Chair, trustees, Steering Group members and any staff or volunteers, the Treasurer helps the Steering Group make informed decisions by presenting clear financial information.

Key Responsibilities

Maintain an overview of the charity’s financial affairs, ensuring they are legal, accurate, and transparent.
Prepare budgets, management accounts, and annual financial statements.
Ensure restricted funds and unrestricted are assigned and budgeted against
Identify annual running costs and identify explicitly within the budget
Liaise with any bookkeeper, accountant, or finance volunteers involved in day-to-day financial operations.
Present regular financial updates at trustee and steering group meetings.
Ensure the charity complies with all relevant financial and reporting obligations, including submission of annual returns and accounts to the Charity Commission.
Monitor cashflow, reserves, and investment activity, advising trustees on financial risks and opportunities.
Ensure appropriate financial controls and procedures are in place and followed.
Lead on appointing and liaising with independent examiners or auditors when required.
Gift aid – ensure that opportunities for claiming Gift aid are identified, claim gift aid and liaise with HMRC as required
Insurances including public liability and Directors insurance – make annual payments and review cover from time to time
Approve and pay invoices and expenses
Support trustees, Steering Group members, volunteers and staff in developing funding strategies, grant applications, and donor reporting, providing the financial input required.

In addition

Assist with the Identification and implementation of a payments system for donations and membership fees
Assist with the development of a Membership system and the collection of fees and donations

Time Commitment

Attendance at trustee and Steering Group meetings (in person or online).
Additional input estimated at 2–4 hours per month for reviewing accounts, reporting, and liaison with relevant workstream leads.
Occasional involvement in fundraising strategy, annual reporting, or external meetings as required.

This role is currently being managed by an interim Treasurer.

If you are interested in volunteering for this role please email: charlotteg@ermeriver.org

Volunteer role reporting to: Chair

WATER is focused on a catchment-wide approach to improving water quality. This encompasses both land-based projects and those more focused on the river itself.

Therefore, we have a Land lead and a Water lead to provide oversight of these two aspects of the work WATER does.

We are keen to recruit someone who has a passion and interest in a catchment approach to improving water quality in the river but with a focus on water-based projects. This person would ideally have a background in data, monitoring, measurements or analysis that can be applied to provide oversight on areas such as testing and water company discharges. They would also provide guidance on strategic decisions as well as actively engaging with positive actions to support WATER’s work.

The job specifics below provide an overview of the many attributes that would be desirable for such a role. If you think these may apply to you, or you have something else to offer, then please get in touch.

Job Purpose

Lead and manage the water quality projects, coordinating efforts to monitor, assess, and improve water quality in the Erme Catchment. Drive the development and delivery of projects to monitor and improve water quality, tackle pollution and enhance aquatic habitats.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and mentor the water quality projects and volunteer team members.
Collaborate with other workstreams to ensure an integrated catchment-based approach to the improvement of water quality across the Erme Catchment.
Ownership of the water quality elements of WATER’s Catchment Action Plan.
Develop and implement water quality monitoring and improvement plans aligned with the charity’s objectives.
Coordinate and participate in water sampling, data analysis, and reporting to establish a water quality baseline, identify and monitor pollution sources and track improvements.
Collaborate with stakeholders including Natural England, Environment Agency, Local Authorities, Southwest Water, NGOs, local communities, partners, volunteers and others to deliver effective catchment-based approaches and nature-based solutions. Provide evidence to help hold relevant agencies and polluters to account.
Secure necessary permissions.
Provide technical expertise and advice on water quality issues.
Initiate or assist with fundraising and grant applications related to water quality projects.
Ensure health and safety compliance for all field and laboratory activities.
Monitor project budgets and deadlines, reporting progress to the Steering Group and funders where required.
Represent the charity at external meetings, forums, and partnerships related to water quality.

What we’re looking for

Proven experience in water quality management, environmental science, or a related field.
Strong leadership, team management, and communication skills.
Technical knowledge of water quality parameters, sampling methods, and relevant legislation.
Experience in data analysis and use of water quality monitoring tools.
Ability to engage and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
Passion for environmental protection and community engagement.
Relevant qualifications in environmental science, ecology, or similar disciplines.
Willingness to work outdoors and travel locally as required.

This role is currently being managed by other team members on an interim basis.

If you are interested in volunteering for this role please email: charlotteg@ermeriver.org

Volunteer role reporting to Chair

WATER is seeking a Funding Coordinator to help us to drive forward our water quality and habitat restoration projects across the Erme catchment. This role will involve identifying, developing, and managing funding bids from both public and private sources, including government grants, charitable trusts, corporate and other partner organisations. There will be occasional public fundraising events. Some fundraising experience in approaching the funding partner categories described above would be an advantage.

Working closely with our highly qualified project and workstream leads, the Funding Coordinator will help shape compelling applications, track deadlines, and ensure subsequent reporting requirements of funders are met.

The ideal person will be organised, proactive, and passionate about supporting community-led action for healthier rivers and landscapes. We appreciate volunteers have busy lives and we try to be as flexible as possible to enable you to fit the role around your schedule. You would be joining a supportive, friendly and welcoming team.

This is a volunteer position, offering the opportunity to make a direct and lasting contribution to the future of the Erme and the habitat in its surrounding catchment.

This role is currently undertaken by an acting team member

If you are interested in volunteering for this role please email:
charlotteg@ermeriver.org

Volunteer role reporting to: Marketing and Communications Lead

The Social Media Manager will lead our Facebook and Instagram presence, helping to raise awareness, engage the community, and inspire action for river and habitat restoration. Working with our Marketing and Communications Lead you will create and curate compelling content, manage campaigns, and grow our online community. This is a volunteer role in line with all WATER’s team members.

Key Responsibilities include:

Content Creation & Scheduling
Community Engagement
Campaign Management
Maintaining WATER’s brand ethos
Performance Tracking
Collaboration with team members

What we are looking for:

Experience of managing Facebook and Instagram accounts for a charity, nonprofit, or relevant community group (professional or volunteer).
Strong writing, editing, and visual storytelling skills.
Ability to create graphics and short videos (using Canva, Adobe, or similar tools).
Knowledge of social media analytics and reporting.
Passion for environmental issues, especially river water quality, landscape and habitat restoration.
Creative, proactive, and able to work independently and as part of a team.

This is a Flexible volunteer role that can fit around your commitments. We envisage posting 2-3 times per week. You will be supported by a friendly, professional and enthusiastic team. The role offers an opportunity to make a real impact on the restoration of our local river and its habitat.

This role is currently being managed by a volunteer on an interim basis

If you are interested in volunteering for this role please email: colinw@ermeriver.org

New volunteer role reporting to: Chair

Are you passionate about protecting nature, building community, and making a real difference? Do you thrive on organizing, inspiring, and empowering others? If so, we have a great opportunity for you.

From building leaky dams to slow run off, planting trees and hedges for wildlife corridors, monitoring pollution and engaging communities, our volunteers are essential to delivering our goals. As WATER expands its work and reputation, we need someone to lead and motivate them.

About the Role

As our new Volunteer Coordinator, you’ll be the driving force behind our volunteer programme. You’ll recruit, mentor, and support a diverse team of passionate individuals—from students and retirees to local businesses and conservation enthusiasts. You’ll help turn good intentions into boots-on-the-ground action.

Key responsibilities include:

Recruiting and briefing volunteers for activities such as river clean-ups, habitat restoration, citizen science, and helping at events.
Organizing volunteer days, supervising and directing our volunteers.
Collaborating with local community environmental groups.
Managing schedules, communications, and feedback to ensure volunteers feel engaged, informed and valued.
Celebrating achievements and creating a culture of appreciation

Why It Matters?

The Erme faces challenges such as sewage overflows, runoff from roads and farmland to bankside proliferation of non-native invasive species and more. But together, we can start to turn the tide. Volunteers help us collect data, remove litter, plant trees, and increase awareness in their communities. We need good volunteer leadership, to help us keep volunteers at the heart of what we do.

What We’re Looking For

You don’t need to be a scientist—but you do need to be a people person. We’re looking for someone who is:

Organized, proactive, and great at juggling tasks
A natural communicator who can inspire and motivate
Comfortable working outdoors and getting stuck in
Experienced in volunteer management or community engagement (or eager to learn!)

Your reward? Being able to stand back and see the difference you have made.

If you are interested in volunteering for this role please email: charlotteg@ermeriver.org

How you can help

There are many ways you can help us protect and restore water quality and habitat in the beautiful river Erme. To find out how, just click SUPPORT US

Support us