Education Volunteering

Education Volunteers delivering the Garden Detectives Discovery Visit at Brodsworth Hall 

English Heritage needs you to bring History to life!

We are looking for people who are aged 18 and over to help bring history to life for children and young people visiting our historic properties. Volunteers mostly assist or lead interactive workshops for schools known as Discovery Visits. All volunteer roles support, develop or deliver site-based education activities.  Anyone can get involved, and you do not need any special skills or experience - just the desire to try something new!  You will receive comprehensive training and support from English Heritage staff in the Education team and at our properties. 

Education volunteering sits at the heart of English Heritage’s aim to broaden the range of activities and resources we can offer to education visitors at our sites.  The involvement of volunteers is designed to increase the number and variety of interactive sessions for education groups as more people will be available on site to help deliver them.  For the volunteer, the benefits of participating in the programme include learning new skills, meeting new people and helping to ensure that the historic environment is understood and enjoyed by our visitors.

10 sites are currently participating in the Education Volunteering Programme, they are: Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, Brodsworth Hall and Gardens in Yorkshire, Fort Brockhurst and Portchester Castle in Hampshire, Goodrich Castle in Herefordshire, Kenwood House Estate in London, Pendennis Castle in Cornwall, Battle Abbey in East Sussex, Audley End House in Essex and Warkworth Castle in Northumberland. 

We are currently looking for volunteers to join our team at Goodrich Castle to assist in delivering Discovery Visits that involve children in a tour of the various aspects of the castle and helping them to explore the idea of medieval life. The Discovery Visits ‘A Goodrich story’, ‘Medieval domestic life’ and ‘The life and times of Lady Joan de Valance’ are hands-on sessions for 5 to 14 year-olds that take place at Goodrich Castle.

In 2010 the programme will be expanding to include Stonehenge.

For more information about how to get involved and to register your interest, please contact: Kate Davies, Education Volunteers Manager, English Heritage on 01793 414438 or kate.davies@english-heritage.org.uk.