Three questions: nature needs voices

What is your role and what does it entail?

My job is to help RSPB members and supporters to use their voices to call on governments to make positive changes for nature. I do this by working closely with my colleagues in policy advocacy. They talk to civil servants and politicians to develop solutions to the challenges facing nature and advocate for these. I then work with them to provide key information about how and when to take action to our supporters.

What has been your biggest success so far?

I’m really proud of our current project to defend the nature-friendly farming budget. This is really the RSPB at its best. We combined our scientific and economic research, policy expertise and farming expertise both on our sites and in our work with farmers to inform this campaign. We then mobilised 100,000 people to sign the petition and thousands also wrote to their MPs. It involved so many people, and it showed the strength and power of our wonderful members. And we achieved the right outcome for nature, which was great.

What can individuals do to influence decision makers?

I believe campaigning is the single biggest impact anyone can have as an individual. Writing to your MP and exerting that public pressure on the government has a real impact. I see it time and time again in my role; it sounds cheesy but when we act together we really can make a difference. If you’d like to do more, please sign up with us to be a campaigner.