A taste of what it’s like to work in a 17th-century mansion is being offered this May. Belton Estate, near Grantham, is holding a House Volunteering Day on Thursday 14 May, giving people an insight into what their House Experience Volunteers do and encouraging people to sign up.
Cared for by the National Trust, Belton House is around 350 years old and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to enjoy its remarkable collection.
Ffion Boyd, Collections and House Officer at Belton, said: ‘Our volunteers are an absolutely invaluable source of knowledge and enthusiasm. Probably the most important part of the House Experience role is engaging visitors of all ages with the house and its collection, and our team are fantastic at this as they are such a friendly, warm and inspiring group.
‘Belton’s popularity continues to grow so we’re keen to recruit more volunteers into our welcoming team. We know that some people can find it daunting to take on a new challenge like this and that’s why we wanted to offer this opportunity to come and chat to staff and current volunteers about the experience. If you’ve ever considered volunteering, please do come along to meet us and learn more.’
The event will take place within Belton House from 11am to 4pm and any prospective volunteers will receive free entry to the Estate on the day so they can attend, dropping in at any time during the event.
House Experience Volunteers ensure that everyone feels welcome at Belton, they share the collection’s stories and help visitors to appreciate how and why the Trust takes care of this special place. They should be open-minded, enthusiastic and good listeners who enjoy meeting new people as well as learning and sharing knowledge. Applicants will need to be available at least once a fortnight and be able to travel to Belton.
All volunteers receive an induction and training, including safety procedures. In return for their amazing work, their travel costs are paid for and, after 50 hours, they are awarded a card granting them free access to any National Trust site as well as 20% discount in Trust shops and cafes.
As well as attending the event, those interested in volunteering can find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteer.
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