Whether you're looking to learn new creative skills, enrich your CV, begin a career in the arts, cultural or heritage sectors, or looking for fun social interactions with local communities, there's something for you here.
We source volunteering opportunities from a wide range of arts, culture and heritage organisations such as the National Trust, Meadow Arts, Rural Media, Open Sky, Hereford Cathedral, Cup Ceramics and Ledbury Poetry. Check out the latest opportunities below and scroll down to hear more from some of the participating organisations...
If you see an opportunity that you would like to volunteer for email
volunteering@ledburypoetry.org.uk
Ledbury Carnival
Social media champion, treasurer, fundraiser and secretary
Ledbury Carnival is the largest social event in the Ledbury calendar attracting thousands of visitors each year. It takes place on August Bank Holiday Monday. The aim is to provide a fun day for all with an emphasis on accessibility and inclusion. It is an opportunity for local clubs and groups in the town and surrounds to showcase their activities. The Carnival is run by a committee of volunteers. A couple of long-standing committee members are stepping down and so some great opportunities have opened up for enthusiastic, motivated and community-minded individuals to make a real difference in the community. The plan would be for new volunteers to shadow the roles this year ready to take over in 2025. Full details to be provided on application.
We are looking to fill the following roles:
- Treasurer
- Fundraiser
- Secretary
- Social Media champion
Email volunteering@ledburypoetry.org.uk for more details
The Big Apple Association
Stewards wanted for Big Apple Blossomtime
Big Apple and Blossomtime - a May Day Bank Holiday weekend celebration of orchards, cider and perry. Volunteers needed on 5th and 6th May 2024.
With the new format for Blossomtime this year we need even more volunteers than ever to help. Can you spare two or three hours on the Sunday or Monday? Tasks are primarily welcoming visitors, stewarding talks and workshops, pouring cider and perry samples, generally being helpful and guiding visitors.
Find out more here: Blossomtime – A Springtime Celebration – The Big Apple Association
Get in touch if you're interested in being involved: volunteering@ledburypoetry.org.uk
Ledbury Poetry
We are looking for volunteers
We are pleased to announce that Ledbury Poetry House will be open to the public on a more regular basis for year-round events and activities, browsing our beautiful poetry book collections, purchasing stationary and gifts, buying tickets for events, visiting to find out more about Ledbury Poetry and participating in creative activities.
We are looking for volunteers who could help on a regular basis on any of the open days and times, as well as volunteers who can assist ad hoc. These can be morning and afternoon slots or the whole session, once a week, more than once a week, once a month or as available. If you think you can help please contact Hannah on hannah.bengough@ledburypoetry.org.uk
Schools and Learning Administrator
Available for a regular morning/ afternoon per week (preferably Thursdays)
Help Ledbury Poetry deliver vital engagement activities to schools and young people! If you think you can help, please email Dee, Engagement Officer dee.davidson@ledburypoetry.org.uk
Full details here: Volunteer support schools and learning.
The value and impact of this work cannot be overstated. For example:
Ashfield Park Primary, Ross on Wye: ‘The power of the day was very evident in the way all children responded. Our year group contains a number of rather challenging children, but very little was needed by our staff to maintain the very high standards of behaviour, energy and engagement that the children continued throughout the day. Even reluctant writers joined in with every activity and produced work that both we and they are truly proud of.”
The schools and learning programme includes:
A programme of poet visits for primary and second schools and pupil referral units. Showcase and sharing events at Ledbury Poetry Festival. Performances at the Festival from leading poets, both for families and schools. A Young Poets Competition. Activities for children and families after school and during school holidays.
2faceddance
Trustees
2Faced Dance are always looking out for new Trustees to join our welcoming Board. New Trustees will help us find a sustainable business model, broaden our horizons and enable us to shape our future strategic development. They will support the staff and champion the work of the company as it approaches its 25th anniversary.
Whatever your background, we welcome interest from passionate individuals.
You can learn more about this exciting opportunity in our Trustee Pack.
If you’re interested but not sure if this is the right option for you, or if you would like to have an informal chat about the role of Trustees, please contact our Chair, Alex Green, board@2faceddance.co.uk.
More details can be found here:
2FD Trustee Pack 2023 (squarespace.com)
CUP Ceramics
Ceramic Studio trainee
CUP Ceramics has an ongoing time exchange program for people interested in learning about the systems of a ceramics studio and community interest company in return for use of the studio facilities.
Cracked Slipper Company
Youth drama workshop assistant
Cracked Slipper Company are looking for drama enthusiasts.
Roles: Youth drama workshop assistant to support one or multiple weekly clubs.
About: Based at The Kindle Centre, Hereford.
The Cracked Slipper Company is a free-to-attend Community Theatre Group.
Our charitable purpose is to promote education through performing arts. The Cracked Slipper Company welcomes everyone of all ages and abilities.
The Cracked Slipper Company currently has 3 different weekly sessions. Centre Stage – Mondays 5.45pm – 7.45pm Our group for neurodivergent 18- 25 year olds Drama 4 Change – Mondays 5.45pm – 7.45pm Our group for 10 – 18 year olds. Little Slippers – Wednesdays 5.45pm – 6.45pm Our group for 7 – 10 year olds
Interested? Email: volunteering@ledburypoetry.org.uk
More info: https://www.thecrackedslippercompany.org/
National Trust
Marketing and Communications
National Trust Herefordshire have multiple placements available.
This role is a brilliant work experience placement that can be done digitally and in person.
Requirements of the role:
- Using social media to communicate with and grow our digital audiences.
- Helping us to manage social media accounts and making sure local pages of the Trust’s website are up to date.
- Keeping in touch with the team so you know about any events that are happening.
- Supporting our internal communication strategies including supporting video production and literature.
- Support us with sense checking and proofreading before we share
- Being part of a team that may need to adapt and change in response to local needs, National Trust priorities or changes to government guidelines
National Trust also require volunteers in the following areas:
Bookshop
Research and archiving
Conservation
Herefordshire countryside
Heritage archaeology
Business services
Facilities
Activities and Events
Visitor experience / events
House experience
Tour Guide
For more information about these roles, please get in touch volunteering@ledburypoetry.org.uk
If you’re currently completing a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award we have a range of opportunities at bronze, silver or gold level, including volunteering positions at the places we care for as well as access to wild, outdoor places.
National Trust
Berrington Hall, Croft Castle, Brockhampton, The Weir
Opportunities at bronze, silver or gold level (Duke of Edinburgh's Award
(Training provided, and travel expenses covered)
Garden and Parks Volunteer
Learn gardening skills. Our volunteers help with the upkeep, development and protection of some of the most beautiful and important gardens and parklands in the UK - so visitors and wildlife can enjoy them.
Food and Beverage Researcher
- Do you have a keen interest in food, people and places, and enjoy finding out more and building on knowledge and ideas.
- Enjoy reading documents, writing up information, listing data and putting together information, ideas and mood boards.
- Enjoy speaking to people and uncovering different perspectives
- Can handle and present large amounts of information and make it engaging and understandable
- Ability to provide clear and concise information
- Have good Internet research skills, or good IT skills, in particular MS Word and Excel
- Are able to motivate yourself and use your own initiative (we will support you)
Heritage Ranger
Heritage Rangers will locate and assess the condition of archaeological features at Herefordshire Countryside Portfolio.
They will act as monitoring volunteers and report to a Monitoring Coordinator based at Croft Castle and Berrington Hall.
The objectives are focused on managing the archaeological resource that is a major part of the Historic Environment by providing up to date information on the condition of the features.
This will be provided by visits to the sites to complete monitoring forms and take basic photographs where needed.
Hereford Cathedral
Tour guides, welcomers, education volunteers
From the reading rooms to the escape room, garden tours to live events, Hereford Cathedral has a multitude of interesting opportunities for you...
Garden Guide
Each summer, Hereford Cathedral opens up its beautiful gardens to visitors to explore. Leading down from the Cathedral Cloisters to the River Wye, the gardens are a haven of tranquillity and are much admired by visitors. The cathedral is looking for Garden Guides to help lead these tours - full training is given to all volunteers but enthusiasm and a passion for history and horticulture is a must!
Welcomer
Hereford Cathedral provides a warm welcome to thousands of visitors each year and one of the most important parts of that warm welcome is the volunteer welcomer team who greet visitors as they arrive. From providing information on the cathedral and answering questions, to encouraging donations and recording visitor numbers, the role of a welcomer is varied but incredibly important.
Education Volunteer
Hereford Cathedral is looking for Education Volunteers to join the team! Working with the many schools that visit throughout the year, education volunteers get to share the wonder of the cathedral with children and young people. Tasks may include assisting with tours and visits, dressing up as historical characters and helping to chaperone the annual Donkey Service. Volunteering in the Education team is always a lot of fun!
Hereford Museums - Black and White House
The Black and White House Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday (around 3 hours). The number of sessions you volunteer in a month are flexible and can be discussed, but once agreed we ask you commit to those times so we can develop a rota.
Purpose – to welcome visitors and engage them in our museum displays and exhibitions, enhancing the visitor experience.
Tasks –
- Provide a welcoming atmosphere for visitors
- To be friendly and informative
- Engage with visitors and answer questions about the exhibits (add an extra layer of information to the visitor experience)
- Direct visitors around the rest of the museum space
- To assist visitors including families and children with museum interactives
- To maintain a level of tidiness and order around the museum
- To assist with the flow of visitors (particularly in busy periods) through the museum
- To be vigilant at all times with regard to safety and security with the collection and visitors
- To understand and comply with the fire evacuation procedure
- To undertake visitor surveys on behalf of the museum
- Count the number of visitors
- You may be asked to use a card machine or til.
(NB this role will involve standing for periods of time and walking around the museum and includes going up and down stairs).
Support provided –
- All our volunteers receive an induction pack and training including an introduction to the workplace, staff, working practice, customer care, health and safety and emergency procedures
- A named supervisor from the staff team
- Any additional relevant training will be provided
- Part of a supportive volunteer team as well as getting support from onsite staff.
If this in person opportunity sounds of interest, get in touch at volunteering@ledburypoetry.org.uk
The Courtyard
Audio Description Volunteer and Education Volunteer
Audio Description volunteer
If you want to give back to your community, The Courtyard Theatre looking for new members of the Courtyard Audio Description Association (CADA) to deliver Audio Description for visually impaired audience members. Audio Description consists of a narrator talking through the performance, describing what is happening on the stage or screen during the natural pauses in the dialogue through a discreet headset.
If this sounds of interest - get in touch via us at volunteering@ledburypoetry.org.uk, and take advantage of the benefits Creative Pathways can offer.
Volunteers needed for Audio Description service! - The Courtyard
Education Department.Volunteer
The Courtyard also offers a week long work experience placement for students.
"During their time with us students get to; experience working in each department (where possible), learn about the different job roles throughout the building, assist with events and see what is involved in the day to day running of an Arts Centre."
If you are under 16, please email The Courtyard directly at takepart@courtyard.org.uk
