Share

Manx Wildlife Trust launches new Island-wide internship programme

Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) has launched a new Island-wide internship programme designed to support and develop four early career conservation professionals each year. The programme will offer training and experience across MWT’s land, sea and community projects, helping to grow future expertise for the Isle of Man and beyond. 

The programme has been made possible thanks to an exceptionally generous donation from an Island resident, who has restored a historic Peel property for use by interns. Thie Vunn (Munn’s House) on Crown Street has been brought back into use as a dedicated base for learning, collaboration and conservation. From September, four interns will live at Thie Vunn while working full-time with MWT teams across the Island. 

The internship programme delivers practical benefits both for MWT and for the Isle of Man’s wider conservation goals. Interns will support woodland restoration, ecological surveys, marine monitoring, education, community outreach and data collection, increasing MWT’s capacity to deliver vital projects. In return, interns receive structured workplace experience, training, mentoring, practical qualifications and professional references to help them move into careers in conservation, ecology, environmental science and related fields. 

A strong international dimension forms part of the programme. Each year, at least one intern will be recruited from the 14 UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs), enabling conservation skills and knowledge to be shared between the Isle of Man and other small island communities such as St Helena, Bermuda, the Falkland Islands and the Cayman Islands. These territories face many of the same environmental pressures as the Isle of Man, making shared learning particularly valuable. Applications from Isle of Man residents are also warmly welcomed. 

The four internship roles are:

• Two Terrestrial Conservation Interns - supporting ecological surveys and environmental reporting, woodland restoration, native tree propagation and practical conservation across MWT nature reserves 
• One Marine Intern - working on shoreline surveys, marine wildlife monitoring and public engagement around the sea 
• One Engagement Intern - supporting schools, communities, events and communications to help people connect strongly with nature 

All four placements are structured, full-time roles running from September to May. Interns receive accommodation, mentoring, equipment and professional training to ensure the programme is accessible to people from a wide range of backgrounds. 

MWT has long held the ambition to provide an equitable internship programme for budding conservationists, wherever they come from. Thanks to this incredibly generous donation, we can now make that ambition a reality. High quality internships open doors, they allow people who care about nature, but who might not otherwise get the chance, to gain experience, build confidence and develop skills that lead to real careers. For MWT, it also increases our capacity to deliver practical conservation and community projects across the Island
Graham Makepeace-Warne, Chief Executive Officer
Manx Wildlife Trust
Volunteer internships are one of the most effective ways to bring new people into conservation. They provide real professional experience and mentoring while also strengthening the work we deliver on the ground. Our interns will contribute directly to woodland restoration, marine monitoring, ecological surveys and community engagement, supporting MWT’s role within the Isle of Man UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
David Bellamy, Head of Conservation and Land
Manx Wildlife Trust

The interns will be based in Peel, with Thie Vunn providing a shared home and working space. MWT will work with Island Escapes to manage and maintain the property and to rent it out when not in use, helping to fund its upkeep and the wider internship programme. In addition to the house, MWT has been gifted four e-bikes by another donor for intern use.  

 MWT continues to seek funding for several remaining items needed to launch the programme, including furniture, furnishings and laptops. A full list of sponsorship opportunities is available at www.mwt.im/interns, or by contacting graham@mwt.im. 

 MWT will begin recruiting the first cohort of interns shortly, with placements starting in September. Full details and application information can be found at www.mwt.im/interns. 

Related news