Sponsored by
Harewood House: Volunteers needed
Without its army of 220 volunteers Harewood House would struggle to open.
It takes a staggering 98 of them alone to man the main house each week.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from Moortown Today.
They patrol its corridors, rooms and gardens, helping some of the 200,000 annual visitors get the full enjoyment from the north Leeds attraction.
* Click here for latest news in Moortown and Alwoodley.
Now one of the country's premier stately homes is on the lookout for new recruits.
Personnel and training manager Sarah Irwin-Davis said: "We have a shortage of room stewards.
"These are volunteers who are based in Harewood House itself, both on the State Floor and the Below Stairs exhibition in the kitchens.
"They cover two or three rooms each and talk to the visitors about the house, the collections and the rooms themselves.
"We do not have an age policy, you just have to be somebody who's physically able to get here and like talking to the public."
The first volunteer group was set up in 1999 and this month celebrates its tenth year.
They now support the house's team of 47 permanent members of staff, working in every part of the stately home including the bird gardens. Mrs Irwin-Davis said: "The first volunteers were brought in because we wanted to open up the kitchens, which are now part of the Below Stairs exhibitions.
"We had to find loads of new staff and as a charity, volunteers were the answer.
"You don't need people who have got degrees in history or loads of knowledge about Harewood because we can give you all of that.
"I like to meet any future volunteers first for a sit down and cup of tea to discuss what they want to do."
* If you are interested in becoming a volunteer e-mail: sarah.i@harewood.org or call (0113) 2181039.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 19 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
