Thank you for your interest to volunteer with us!
We host a variety of volunteering opportunities, as well as work experience placements. Due to high demand we are not able to accept everyone so please get in touch if you’re interested to find out more.
Work Experience at Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay
We are a very popular venue for work experience and receive hundreds of requests for volunteer placements every year. However, due to commitments with the CCN courses we are directly linked with and with new assessments regarding safety of Blue Reef staff, volunteers, the fish in our care and visitors, we have had to re-assess our work experience policy.
We can only allow students to volunteer for work experience who are a minimum of 16 years of age, are studying for an animal / marine biology related qualification (e.g. Animal Care, Marine Biology, Aquaculture, etc) and can undertake a minimum two-week placement (or equivalent number of days spread over a period of weeks) at Blue Reef.
What Volunteers Can Expect at Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay
Students will assist the aquarists in the day-to-day running of the aquarium. Tasks will be given to either complete on their own or with an aquarist. Basic tasks such as taking the temperatures of the tanks will be a daily job the student will complete on their own. Basic cleaning of the aquarium through wiping the tank glass, sweeping and litter picks will be carried out by the student before the aquarium opens to the public. The student will be shown some feeds including wet and dry feeds. Water changing the tanks are a daily task that is carried out by students and aquarists either together or on their own, the student will be given the opportunity to learn different methods of doing this and given the chance to practice each method. The aquarists perform talks to the public throughout the day, the student will attend these talks and assist the aquarist where possible for example feeding whilst the aquarist talks.
Students will be given a uniformed t-shirt after providing a £10 deposit that will be returned to them at the end of their placement. It is up to the student to wear appropriate clothing to their placement. We ask that they wear dark loose fitted trousers and shoes with a good grip. The student can leave site for their lunchbreak (30minutes) or have access to the staff room. The working hours at 9am till 4pm.
To Apply please fill out and submit the application form attached below.
Sorry we are now fully booked for placements until 2026