 Do something different in 2010As we welcome in a whole new decade, it’s a good time to do things differently. Many of us will be thinking about New Year’s resolutions and looking for a change. The National Trust has got the perfect suggestion – join our family of volunteers and see the world change around you! Volunteers make the National Trust run, there are more than 4,000 of them in the East of England who last year gave 229,000 hours of their time. Our Norfolk properties are no exception and we couldn’t keep our houses, gardens and countryside sites open without people who give their time and expertise. And as we are poised to open our properties much, much more in 2010 we need all the hands we can get! So why not make 2010 the year you do something different and start it with a New Year’s resolution that won’t cost you a penny but will reap great rewards. Jennie Jordan is the National Trust’s Community, Learning and Volunteering Manager in the East of England “There’s no mould for a volunteer with the National Trust, people come from completely different backgrounds and for completely different reasons, but our volunteers are all passionate and dedicated and many have unique skills and expertise which are tremendously valuable. We’ve got volunteer guides, growers, sewers, stewards, diggers, planters, watchers, waiters, choppers, caterers, sellers, talkers, millers and snappers so life is never boring! Our volunteers speak about the great sense of team work, the new skills they learn and the satisfaction they get from knowing they’re genuinely helping to make something happen. It’s a fantastic way to meet people, broaden your experience and skills and get the insiders view on how a property works. And as many of our properties will be opening 7 days a week in 2010 we really do need your help to make it all happen.”
What advice does Nathan Have for any potential recruits? “Just give it a go because until you’ve tried it you never know what it’s like and what to expect. And I think you’ll be surprised by the range of different things you could end up doing and trying and the feeling of making a difference to something you believe in.” So why not take Nathan’s advice and make a resolution to do something new for the National Trust in 2010. Whatever you’re interested in, there’ll be an opportunity for you to get involved at your local property and as well as meeting people and developing skills, volunteering can really help keep you fit, healthy and happier for longer so don’t wait, make 2010 your year of volunteering. Volunteer recruitment days are a good place to start:
For more information about volunteering across the East of England, please call the Regional Office on 01284 747500 or email ee.volunteering@nationaltrust.org.uk |
@ Sheringham Community Paper - Issue 110 - 12 February 2010
In Norfolk,
Nathan Grant, 18, is a recent convert. “I started volunteering at Oxburgh Hall in the
summer when I’d just finished my A-levels. I went to visit Oxburgh and saw a poster
there and I just thought it’s something I could help with to really make a difference
and be useful. I work full time at Waitrose but the shifts are very varied so I’ve
found time to do one or two days a week here at Oxburgh and I just love it. I started as a
room steward in the summer when the house was open, and have since helped with evening
plays, conservation cleaning and office work. It’s really really varied so I never
know what I’ll be doing which is fun. I love the history and the property but mostly
it’s the people who make it. And it’s definite CV points which I know will help
me in the future as I think about what I want to do long-term.