Step into Volunteering at Gunnersbury

Beginning in April 2018, Room Steward Volunteers will help our visitors enjoy our beautiful, newly refurbished museum. They will spend time in the galleries and historic rooms encouraging visitors to engage with Gunnersbury’s heritage, natural environment and fascinating local history collection. They will employ brilliant communication skills to share their passion and enthusiasm for local social history with a diverse range of people.

When: Weekly

Working with: Gunnersbury Park and Museum Volunteers, Visitor Assistants and the Volunteer & Visitor Experience Officer

Department: Front of House

How you’ll help

Room Steward Volunteers will help our visitors enjoy our beautiful museum. They will spend time in the galleries and historic rooms encouraging visitors to engage with Gunnersbury’s heritage, natural environment, and fascinating local history collection. Working alongside the Visitor Experience Team, they will employ brilliant communication skills to share their passion and enthusiasm for local social history with a diverse range of people.

Who makes a good volunteer?

We’re looking for people who enjoy being with, and can communicate well with, a wide variety of people. Reliability and good timekeeping are essential qualities, along with enthusiasm, a positive attitude and a strong interest in helping others to engage with heritage and history. This is a great role for someone who loves sharing their stories, spending time chatting with people who share their interests and learning new things.

Full training will be provided for all volunteers.

This volunteer role will be based within the park's team in the historic walled community garden and wider park. Gunnersbury Park is a beautiful 170+ acre site that is home to a wide collection of local, heritage and exotic plants and trees. The Community Kitchen Garden is situated within one of the original walled gardens that once provided Gunnersbury’s occupants with edible produce and cut flowers. Volunteers have been developing the site since 2012 and are essential to maintaining the garden as an invaluable resource for our Learning programme. Volunteers will have an exciting opportunity to meet new people, learn new gardening skills and to help grow the historically themed park gardens in a really hands-on capacity. This is a lovely opportunity to connect with nature in a chemical free environment, with the support of our highly skilled Head Gardener.

This role is very hands on and may involve manual labour (e.g turning over soil, planting etc). This is optional, please make us aware in your application process if you would prefer not to, so that we can adjust your tasks accordingly. This role will also involve spending time in all weather and temperatures as you will be based outside, so come prepared in appropriate clothing and with sun screen and water if needed.

Please note that this role is voluntary and therefore unpaid, however Gunnersbury CIC is happy to be able to offer travel reimbursement up to a value of £8 upon proof of purchase, for each volunteer shift attended.

How you’ll help

• Seasonal tasks, such as seeding, planting bulbs etc
• Monitoring health of plants
• Maintaining the appearance and tidiness of the garden
• Assisting implement new garden plans and designs

Who makes a good volunteer?

• Enthusiastic
• Reliable
• Interest in or knowledge of horticulture – preferably experience growing vegetables
• Keen to spend time outdoors in a hands on role
• Self-motivated and able to carry out tasks independently as well as part of a team
• Comfortable learning new skills and information

This volunteer role will be based within Gunnersbury Park, a beautiful 185+ acre site that is home to a wide collection of local, heritage and exotic plants and trees, as well as listed historic buildings. 

The purpose of the Litter Picking Volunteer’s role is to help maintain a high standard of cleanliness and safety throughout the whole park. The role is hands-on and public facing, spending time in all weather conditions and temperatures. 

The session will run weekly on Sundays 10am – 11am. This volunteer role operates from March to October only. 

How you’ll help

• Litter picking
• Monitoring for and reporting signs of damage to buildings or trees and plants
• Reporting anti-social behaviour (volunteers will never be expected or asked to approach visitors to enforce park regulations or discourage anti-social behaviour)
• Championing Gunnersbury Park & Museum and our work

Who makes a good volunteer?

We’re looking for friendly and approachable people with an eye for detail and a sensible approach to health and safety. If you enjoy walking in the outdoors, engaging with the public and doing meaningful work to improve an important community amenity, then this role is for you!

We need event volunteers to support both our community programme and our commercial events.  

Community programme: Community event volunteers are vital to ensuring that there is support for our diverse programme of events and that they all run smoothly. These volunteers are creative, enthusiastic and personable. They are also eager to get involved and to gain an insight into how heritage public programmes are created and run. 

Commercial events: Commercial event volunteers are vital for supporting commercial events such as weddings, private venue hire, workshops, filming. Ensuring that these events run smoothly and participants have a flawless experience. These volunteers are professional and personable and great with the public. 

When: As the event programme dictates 

How you’ll help

Helping with community and/or commercial events that are scheduled throughout the year 

• Being on-site to help with visitor orientation 
• Supporting the set up and take down of events, on and off site 
• Sometimes helping with refreshments  
• Assisting with problem solving to ensure the smooth running of events 
• Where necessary manning entry/exit points 
• May involve some light manual labour such as moving tables and chairs 

Who makes a good volunteer?

We’re looking for people who enjoy being with, and can communicate well with, a wide variety of people. Reliability and an eye for presentation are essential qualities, along with enthusiasm, a positive attitude and a strong interest in providing accessible events for a diverse range of groups. This is a great role for someone who is looking to gain skills in events, programme planning and working with community groups in the heritage sector. 

Full training will be provided for all volunteers.