In March 2004 Lisa Gibson was a 3rd year student in Environmental Studies programme at the University of Glasgow's Crichton Campus. As one phase of her life was closing she was aware that another was about to start: employment. But she was concerned that it would be a difficult challenge to get work; she felt that she needed more practical, hands on experience.

Lisa decided to contact Volunteer Action Dumfries & Galloway to see if there were any volunteer opportunities that related to her interests in biodiversity. As luck would have it the month before Volunteer Action had registered the D&G Environmental Resource Centre (ERC). Mark Pollitt, the Centre's Manager was seeking volunteers to help to gather, manage and integrate environmental data, and make this accessible to all. This would be carried out on computer networks, using geographical information systems (GIS). The ERC was created to act as a local focus for collating, managing and sharing information about local biodiversity, including protected species and conservation site data, as well as well as working with local naturalists and environmental organisations.Volunteers would be able to get involved in all of these aspects of ERC work.

Mark interviewed Lisa and accepted her as an Environmental Resource Volunteer. By the end of March Lisa was using the ERC's state of the art software to enter local biodiversity data into the Centre's information database. The data included plant records, local wildlife data and mapping the boundaries of local wildlife sites, information critical for the protection of the region's biodiversity. Mark has a positive and high regard for the work of volunteers at the Centre. "Volunteers have been a real bonus and benefit to us in getting biodiversity data made available to the rest of the community. For anyone with an interest in wildlife, a volunteer opportunity such as ours is an excellent way to increase their own knowledge."

After graduation Lisa was able to approach the task of gaining employment with increased confidence. Her experience in working with GIS was a support in her gaining employment with the D&G Council's Technology Solutions department. A year and a half later Lisa applied for and was accepted back at the ERC as their Neighbourhood Nature Watch Project Officer.

In this role she has been involved with producing the Centre's Wildlife Recording Review 2006 as well as newsletters and helping to develop the ERC's new website. Her academic studies were put to good use in surveying local adders and studying invasive plants in the area. Her own experience as a volunteer has helped her to support their current volunteers.

Always one to look to the future, Lisa realised that with her Project's funding running out she should plan for yet another change. In September she started a two year Master of Science degree in Carbon Management through Glasgow University at the Crichton's Carbon Centre. Looking back on her volunteer and employment experiences at the ERC she feels she gained confidence in her academic skills. "I gained practical benefits in using the Centre's geographical information systems and using the Recorder database programme. It has also allowed me to network with wildlife and conservation volunteers and employers in the region."

"I would recommend volunteering - especially for conservation and environmental tasks. Having a degree is not a guarantee of employment. Experiences gained from volunteering help you stand out. It demonstrates initiative and a willingness to get involved. Not only have I gained practical skills but also my work at the ERC has helped me to become known to other environmental organisations. I would encourage other young people to contact Volunteer Action (01387 811571 or