Get involved as a volunteer at The Firs

Volunteer Geoff chatting with visitors in the cottage — Learning about Elgar from volunteer Geoff

This special place exists because of the enthusiasm and hard work of our volunteers. You don’t need to be an Elgar expert to thrive here.

Opportunities

There is a wide range of volunteering opportunities at The Firs for example

Welcoming visitors at reception with a friendly smile
Helping keep the cottage garden a riot of colour
Helping in our Tea-room, serving light lunches and afternoon teas
If you’re a spreadsheet wizard, helping out with the many admin and clerical jobs that always need doing
Telling the Elgar story as a guide in the Birthplace cottage
Welcoming coach parties and helping them enjoy the Elgar experience

Sue answering the phone at The Firs — Sue is ready to answer your questions

We need you!

The National Trust would not survive without its volunteers.

We need people who can

Love places: helping to look after them forever, for everyone; looking for ways to bring places to life for others; being an ambassador for the place where you volunteer
Share our common purpose: working collaboratively; accepting collective responsibility; keeping things simple for yourself and others.
Inspire people: being energetic and working at pace; sharing your knowledge; engaging with a wide range of people.
Think long-term: always looking at the bigger picture; looking for ways to work more efficiently; seeking best value for money

Victor welcoming guests at The Firs — Victor welcoming you on arrival

Why should I volunteer?

You may volunteer with the National Trust because of your love of special places, or because you support our values and behaviours. But there are all sorts of other reasons:

Friendship: volunteering is a super way of making and keeping new friends and meeting more like-minded people.
Learning new skills: If your career is behind a desk, how about learning about gardening or working in a restaurant.
Developing new interests: Maybe you’ve always wanted to become an expert at cleaning 18^th century metal work -now’s your chance!
Belonging: feeling as though your part of something much bigger than you; doing something completely different; getting away from life’s routines

What next?

We want to develop each of our volunteers to reach their full potential. You will work closely with, and be supported by, staff and other volunteers to achieve this. We’ll give you training when necessary. All we ask is a regular commitment from you (ideally a day a week but could be more or less) and a willingness to uphold our values and behaviours.

Call Joe on 01905 333 330 for an initial chat about how you can become part of this fantastic team, or email Joe.Tierney@nationaltrust.org.uk.

You can download an application form here

Want to meet more like-minded people?

Join in at a National Trust Centre; social groups of National Trust members that promote the work of its local National Trust places with lots of events to raise money and enjoy good company.

Local centres include Worcester and Malvern and Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Visit our supporter groups page to find a National Trust Centre near you

" For me it’s all about the ‘buzz’ of being able to pass on and share my knowledge with others who want to know more and the challenge to go away and find answers to questions I didn’t know."