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Room Guides connect visitors to our fascinating houses. They are passionate about engaging with the public and connecting visitors to our art and collections. Our volunteers can make people feel at home, whilst at the same time highlight some of the conservation projects to preserve historic interiors. By getting involved, you could… • Become part of the community at Ham House and Garden. • Learn about 17th century history. • Use your people skills to welcome and inspire visitors from all over the world. • Belong to an enthusiastic team and make new friends. • Spend time in sumptuous rooms packed with history. • Work and talk with a diverse range of people. • Enhance your CV and improve your employment skills. You’d also be joining Europe’s largest conservation charity and the wider National Trust team proudly looking after 780 miles of coastline, over 250,000 hectares of land, over 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves (including lighthouses, villages, pubs and a gold mine!). We are a unique charity welcoming millions of people each year and with a vision to open up places for the benefit of everyone, forever. What’s involved? • Welcoming every visitor warmly. • Learning more about Ham House, so you can share all that is special with visitors. • Developing a knowledge and understanding of life in the 17th century, particularly as to how it relates to Ham House. • Helping visitors understand why we need to take care of special places and, if needs be, raising any concerns you have with staff. • Keeping a watchful eye and ensuring that visitors to not touch the collection. • Supervising and encouraging good visitor flow through rooms, as well as managing access to the house via the front door. • Helping people and thinking about the needs of all visitors. • Encouraging families to enjoy all activities offered across the property, including outdoor trails, activities or exhibitions in the House. • Being an advocate of the National Trust’s Everyone Welcome strategy and inclusive histories. • Understanding and playing a critical role in health and safety, and evacuation procedures, e.g. showing visitors the safest routes out of the building in an emergency. • Becoming familiar with and following the National Trust’s Health and Safety Policy which includes adapting to local needs, National Trust priorities, or changes to government guidelines e.g. Covid. You can email: helping.ham@nationaltrust.org.uk for further information. This job advert will be open from September 2nd – October 13th 2024 Invites for interviews will be sent out on 14th October. Inductions will be held on October 28th, 30th and November 6th 2024.
This role will suit you if you are … • Full of enthusiasm and love meeting people. • Want to work in a historic setting. • Able to engage with people of all ages in a friendly manner and introduce them to the history of Ham, its family and its inspiring collection. • Comfortable working on your own. • Interested in history, art, historic buildings or simply looking for a new challenge! • Comfortable undertaking essential compliance responsibilities including fire and security measures. • Available for either a 2- or 4-hour shift on Mondays or Saturdays.
We want all our volunteers to feel welcome and to have an equally positive experience when volunteering with us. Volunteers will be: • Provided with the necessary induction, training, and equipment. • Any reasonable adjustments can be made to do this role well and safely. • Be offered expenses to cover agreed travel costs between home and place of volunteering. • Have remote access to support, news and rotas via our volunteer website. All National Trust volunteers will be asked to • Respect and uphold the National Trust values whilst volunteering with us. • Complete training required of all NT volunteers and any role specific training.
We are looking for Room Guide volunteers who can commit to a Saturday or a Monday.
