Volunteer

Volunteers have always been at the heart of the Association and a driving force behind our success. We’re so grateful to the incredible people who give their time and passion to make the South West Coast Path one of the greatest walks in the world.

Thinking of volunteering?

We always welcome new volunteers and are interested in a wide range of skills and expertise. If you have time to spare - from a few hours to a few days or more, we would love to hear from you.

We have a range of volunteering opportunities available including:

• joining our dedicated team of Local and Area Reps, who walk the Path regularly to make sure it’s in tip top shape;
• support our Coast Path Connectors project in engaging with local communities on the Path
• supporting the teamin our events and campaigns; and
• becoming a Trustee with oversight of the charity’s governance.

Local and Area Reps

The 630 miles of the Coast Path has been divided into a number of sections each headed up by an Area Rep who sit on the Path Committee and coordinate a team of Local Reps. Each year a conditions survey of the Trail is undertaken by the reps, coordinated by the National Trails Officer.

For more information please contact: [email protected]

Coast Path Connectors volunteers

Thanks to National Lottery Heritage Fund funding, our Coast Path Connectors project is helping people get out exploring the Coast Path. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who live near or in our 5 hub areas (Plymouth, North Devon, Dorset coast, Torbay and Cornwall) to act as walk leaders and points of contacts in introducing people to the Coast Path and help to engage people in being more confident in exploring it.  

As a volunteer, you will receive full training on leading walks, managing groups, risk assessment as well as learning more the wildlife and heritage of your stretch of coast. Further information is on the Role Specification which can be found here. 

For more information and to find your nearest hub area visit the Coast Path Connectors webpage. To discuss further, please contact: [email protected] 

Marketing and Events Volunteers

We run campaigns and events that help raise money and awareness. Each and every project brings with it a range of work we need help with, and your support can help make such work possible.

For more information please contact: [email protected]

What do our volunteers say?

Tino Savvas, Area Rep for Kingswear to Topsham

“Like many others involved with South West Coast Path, when I fully retired a few years ago, I had more time to spend on great activities like walking and had time and skills that I hoped would be useful to the Association. I knew that I would very much miss the day to day interaction with people, which I had enjoyed for many years throughout my career and this again gave me the opportunity to work with some interesting and committed people.

I am lucky because I have a group of excellent, active and very capable Local Reps who do most of the work on a day to day basis. Walking with them and chatting about the Path and our roles is great fun. Also, it is good to overcome the normal British reserve and chat with the many walkers we meet along the Path and promote the Path and benefits of membership to the Association. As we know, walkers are a friendly and happy community.”

Rachel Hadley-Leonard, Host, 630 Miles podcast

"Following my 630 mile thru-hike in 2022, it was incredibly important to me to ‘give back’ to the Association, a charity with whom I now feel forever connected, and one which is truly valued by so many. Their quest to make our beloved path accessible to as many as possible is admirable, and their work is both essential and motivational in equal parts. As I reflect on my 12 months of podcast hosting, I now realise what a privilege and an honour it has been to undertake the role of volunteer podcast host. I am looking forward to the next piece of voluntary work I undertake with the Association - watch this space!"

Listen to 630 Miles - An Audio Journey - 12 episodes filled with inspiring guests including authors Raynor Winn and Katherine May, artist Kurt Jackson, and Sue Sayer MBE. 

Geoff Garfield, Area Rep for Minehead to Bideford

"Volunteering with the Association gives me two big benefits: meeting & working with different people, and the chance to make a difference for users of the Path. Walking the Path regularly, I have met all sorts of interesting people, from around the UK, Europe, and North America; ranging from a wildly enthusiastic 11-year-old on his first long distance walk, to a Japanese professor. Then I have the chance to walk with the other Local Reps in my area, so we can look at ways to deal with problems or make improvements. I also meet with the different Path managers, mainly National Trust or Exmoor National Park rangers, who do the actual work of clearing fallen trees or repairing signposts, and then there is the great team down at the SWCPA Office.”

Get in touch

To find out more about our current volunteering opportunities, or to add your name to our waiting list, please email [email protected] and tell us a bit more about yourself and what type of work you’d be interested in doing.