Volunteers needed to help welcome visitors to East Riddlesden Hall

House experience volunteers help bring the history of East Riddlesden Hall to life

After a winter of weekend openings, East Riddlesden Hall is preparing to open its 400-year-old doors to welcome visitors from Saturday to Wednesday each week. The historic manor house is set to open five days a week from February 11th.

To support the opening, the team are looking for House Experience Volunteers to help welcome visitors to the National Trust property, near Keighley.

House Experience Volunteers have a vital role to play in bringing the history and heritage of East Riddlesden Hall to life. They welcome and inspire visitors, helping them to learn more about the property in an interesting and enjoyable way.

The role is a great opportunity for people who are passionate about history and local heritage, and for those who enjoy speaking to people and working as part of a team. It is also a great role for anyone looking to gain experience in customer service, conservation or working within a charity.

East Riddlesden Hall welcomes around 38,000 visitors a year, from a range of backgrounds and age groups.

Volunteering and Community Officer, Emily Taylor said: “House Experience Volunteers are a key part of our volunteering community at East Riddlesden Hall. They provide a warm and friendly welcome to visitors wanting to explore the house and find out more about the history of this fascinating place.

“We welcome volunteers from any background, and we’re committed to making everyone who steps through the doors to East Riddlesden Hall feel welcome. No experience is required, we’re looking for people with the right personality who enjoy communicating with other people. If you’re friendly, enthusiastic and enjoy meeting new people this is a great role to start your volunteering journey with the National Trust.”

Volunteering with the National Trust is a great way to learn new skills and make friends. At East Riddlesden Hall, you can enjoy being part of a friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming team, as well as seeing the house from a new perspective. The National Trust offers great benefits to its volunteers, including help towards travel costs.

Cook at East Riddlesden Hall, Tom Dixon, 27, started at the site as a volunteer before progressing into a paid role in the kitchen and credits that transition for setting him on his current career path.

“I started volunteering in 2019 in the tearoom, I was struggling to find work at the time and thought I could improve my CV by volunteering with the National Trust,” said Tom.

“In March 2020, I was offered a paid position in the tearoom and since then I have worked my way up from Team Member to Cook.

“Volunteering not only helped me to improve my CV but started me on my career path. Making that first step onto the ladder, especially in an unpaid role, can be a difficult thing to do – but I knew I’d made the right decision quite soon after starting, as my skills and confidence grew.

“It shows how much the National Trust values its volunteers that I was offered a permanent role, and I know I’m not the first person who has made that transition.”

To find out more and to apply, please visit Volunteer with us | National Trust