Work Experience and Volunteering – Education and Training
For many years Paradise Park has been actively involved in the training of animal care students, helping them to gain valuable experience in a busy animal collection and tourist attraction.
We have a good reputation for quality education and training, with plenty of practical “hands on” experience working with the birds and animals. Paradise Park was awarded the title of “Work Experience Provider of the Year” by Duchy College in 2014. We are fully insured, and Health and Safety checked.
All prospective work experience students/trainees/volunteers should read the document entitled “Work experience at Paradise Park (what to expect)” before applying for work experience. Please appraise yourself honestly – if you begin a placement and find you are not happy with what you are doing it is a waste of staff time in supervising and training you, and can stop another student from getting a placement which they would enjoy.
There are a few different types of work experience – please see the sections below.
PLEASE NOTE: All work experience students must be aged 16 or over.
To apply for work experience all potential students/trainees/volunteers should contact:
Work Experience Co-ordinator, Paradise Park, 16 Trelissick Road, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4HB, or email workexperience@paradisepark.org.uk
An interview will then be arranged when requirements will be discussed, and the Park’s rules and regulations and health and safety information will be explained.
We take British and International students, but for overseas students we do expect a reasonable level of English for communication purposes. We do not have accommodation on the premises but will try to help find suitable accommodation locally.
Please be aware that any type of work experience at the Park will be physically demanding, and some feeding routines can be quite complex, so both a good level of physical fitness and a good level of education are required.
SCHOOL WORK EXPERIENCE
At the present time the Park does not have a school work experience programme for students who are under 15 or under. The minimum age for anyone wishing to do a placement is 16. Sixth form pupils will be considered, particularly those who are planning to go into any type of animal related career.
COLLEGE WORK EXPERIENCE
We welcome applications from students who are studying on any type of Animal Care, Zoology or Conservation course, or from any Veterinary College. Work experience placements can be either on a one day a week basis, or in blocks depending on need. Please apply well in advance (at least six months in advance if possible!) as these placements get taken up very quickly, and we usually have a very high demand for such placements during term time. We also welcome students between June and the end of September which is outside the normal term times. If you have any paperwork that needs completing, before your placement starts, please bring this with you to your interview. Likewise, grading forms will be completed after your placement has finished. If you have an hourly log in sheet, please make sure you get it signed at the end of every day. If staff need to come and see you during your placement, please let us know so we can arrange a date and time to speak to them.
VOLUNTARY WORK / GENERAL INTEREST PLACEMENT
Voluntary and general interest placements are available at the Park but you will need to be over 16. For any person wishing to volunteer we would need to have references from TWO sources. Voluntary placements can be arranged according to need, but ideally we would expect volunteers to work on a daily basis, rather than hourly. Please bear in mind that voluntary work does not lead to employment at the Park. (See apprenticeships section)
APPRENTICESHIPS
At the present time we do not run an apprenticeship scheme at the Park. However, we have employed seasonal / part time (and some eventually full time) staff from our work experience students and from volunteers, but this is usually after a long trial period, and students and volunteers must demonstrate aptitude, dedication and commitment to be considered for any type of employment with us.
ESTATE WORK EXPERIENCE
We can take suitable applicants to work with our ground staff, again applicants need to be over 16. The work will involve helping with all parts of maintaining the Park and the gardens. This type of placement would suit horticultural students and conservation students or anybody who would be generally interested in joining our grounds maintenance team. Please apply as described above, applicants will need to be interviewed by our Head Gardener and places will be limited.