House Experience Volunteer

What is a House Experience Volunteer? Our House Experience Volunteers have a vital role to play in bringing East Riddlesden Hall to life. They welcome and inspire our visitors, helping them to learn more about the property in an interesting and enjoyable way.

What’s in it for you? • Use your people skills to connect to visitors from a variety of backgrounds and interests, making a difference to someone’s day

• Become part of the friendly team who work together to bring the 17th century agricultural manor alive

• Help visitors to help us conserve the Hall and its special collection

• Be rewarded by working in East Riddlesden Halls’ beautifully intimate surroundings, a little oasis in an urban setting

• Learn new skills and see a whole new perspective, including some of the property’s secrets

Skills

What’s involved? • Developing a good knowledge of East Riddlesden, including information about the family, house and the collection so that you can tell visitors about it.

• Welcoming visitors in a warm and inviting manner, answering their questions where possible and providing information about each room.

• Developing an awareness of the house opening and closing times and the different activities and facilities that are offered to visitors.

• Directing visitors to additional sources of information contained in the guidebook and room folders.

• Monitoring rooms to prevent theft or damage to the collection. Developing an awareness of conditions which may affect the collection, including high light levels and helping visitors to understand the conservation effects of touching objects.

• Familiarising yourself with security precautions and procedures in each room. This will include emergency evacuations in case of a fire. Training will be provided on this.

• Dealing with any queries that may arise from visitors and colleagues and pass to the Duty Manager if necessary.

• Maintaining and enforcing the National Trust Byelaws, reporting any problems in doing so to the Volunteer Manager or Duty Manager, as appropriate.

• Reporting to your Volunteer Manager any concerns, worries or issues you have, seeking assistance at the soonest opportunity you have.

• Be aware of the needs and arrangements for all visitors, including disabled and family visitors and assisting with these where necessary.

• Becoming familiar with and then following the National Trust’s Health and Safety Policy. Copies of this are on the Volunteer Notice Boards.

• Complying with the National Trust’s Values when volunteering at East Riddlesden.

• Keeping abreast of volunteer notices relevant to you and your team. These may be circulated through our online volunteering platform myvolunteering. • Attending relevant meetings and training days throughout the year, some of which are essential.

• Being an ambassador for the National Trust and keeping abreast of the organisation’s ambitions, strategy, and motivations.

• Enjoying yourself and enjoying our beautiful place.

• There may be other activities where we could use your help.

• This role will use online rotas to record your volunteer hours.

This role will suit people who… have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, enjoy meeting people, like operating as part of a team and are keen to learn. Love sharing their passion for East Riddlesden with our visitors to give them a fantastic experience.