The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust celebrates the stories of amazing volunteers in South Wales

This Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is celebrating the contribution of some of the amazing people who give up their time to support WWT’s work for people and nature. Many individuals bring their skills to WWT on a voluntary basis and much of what they do is made possible thanks to funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised more than £4.8 million for WWT since 2015, awarded through the Postcode Planet Trust.

One of those volunteers is Cerith Allen, who helps out at Llanelli with everything from organising the shop, demonstrating pond dipping, assisting school groups and even giving a talk on flamingos.

Cerith is on the autism spectrum and is supported in his volunteering by his father Simon and by staff at WWT Llanelli. Interested in wildlife from a young age, Cerith started volunteering for WWT when he was 16, wowing the team at Llanelli with his outstanding knowledge of species visible from the interview room.

Seven years on he now knows the centre like the back of his hand and was even instrumental in finding a lost child who had wondered off from their parent.

As well as all he has done for the site Cerith has also benefited from his volunteering. The friends he has made at the site have seen him grow in confidence, so much so that he performed a love song in Japanese at a recent Christmas party and recited one of his Dad’s comedic poems about a Christmas fairy.

Their on-stage partnership received such rave reviews from the staff that Simon went on to publish a rhyming children’s book about that festive fairy, seeing it on shelves by Christmas the next year.

“The impact it has had on both of us really has been quite profound,” Explained Simon.

Cerith is now at college studying animal husbandry and has used the course’s work placement as an opportunity to work with animals at Llanelli full time.

Cerith said it was an honour to work at WWT Llanelli, adding: “I’ve been having really good experiences at Llanelli even before I was volunteering here. Mum and dad used to take me there when I was a toddler and I’ve enjoyed my time here from then till now.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It is truly inspiring to witness the immense dedication of volunteers like Cerith and Simon, who make a remarkable impact in preserving vital wetland habitats as well as enabling others to connect with nature. In Britain, our players have raised £1.1 billion to support great causes. Seeing this incredible support in action through initiatives by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, alongside the tireless efforts of extraordinary volunteers, fills us with hope, a win for us all.”