Overview of Raby Estates
Raby Castle near Staindrop has been the home of the Vane family for generations and is open to visitors seasonally from March to November. Built by the powerful Nevilles in the 14th century, it is one of the most impressive castles in England. Visitors can venture inside the powerful exteriors and explore superb collections and unique stories of the people who lived and worked here. Set within acres of unexpected beauty, complete with heritage buildings, remodelled gardens, stylish shopping, must-see events, woodland play and seasonal food, sourced or inspired from the Estate.
The Estate has three major landmarks; Raby Castle – one of the finest medieval castles in England, High Force Waterfall in the stunning countryside of the North Pennines National Landscape and The Wrekin which is one of Shropshire’s most iconic hills. All three areas welcome visitors from far and wide, making the Leisure and Tourism aspects of the Estate a thriving part of its business.
The Raby Estate is a family-run business that has been operating in County Durham and Shropshire for many centuries. The estate is diverse in terms of its range of departments across the agricultural land, vast woodland, heritage landscapes and unique buildings and properties, environmental projects, all steeped in a rich history
Becoming a Volunteer
Raby Estate is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to become part of the team to welcome visitors from across the country and further afield to Raby Castle. Volunteers should have a friendly and outgoing personality as they are the first point of contact to welcome thousands of visitors each year. This is a hands-on role where you will be expected to work independently and as part of a team across a range of impressive rooms sharing the unique history and stories.
We are looking for someone with an outgoing, helpful and friendly personality, confident in engaging with members of the public. You will be familiar with our beautiful spaces at Raby, from the stunning Octagon Drawing Room to the grand Entrance Hall. We are looking for confident, enthusiastic and friendly faces to welcome visitors to Raby. Help to provide a memorable experience by highlighting special items from our collections and being on-hand to answer questions.
What will you be doing
- Volunteers’ point of contact will be Tim Dodgson, our Public engagement and learning officer. and will deliver exceptional customer service ensuring that visitors receive a positive first impression and a friendly welcome. Volunteers play a crucial role in helping to share Raby Castle’s rich and fascinating history with visitors. We are currently recruiting volunteers to support the Raby Castle team throughout the season.
- Helping visitors to discover more about Raby Castle and be inspired during their visit
- Be ‘on duty’ in the public rooms of the Castle throughout the day to ensure that all visitors view the property at its best and impart information about Raby Castle’s unique history.
- Providing an excellent visitor experience; being proactive and approachable with the visitors’ experience in mind. Being informative and knowledgeable when answering visitors’ questions about Raby Castle
- Being proactive in providing low-level security to Raby Castle during opening hours
- Work within Raby Castle’s procedures
- Work in compliance with the Raby Castle Health and Safety policy at all times
- Undertake training as and when required
- Potential for future volunteering opportunities across the wider grounds including gardens and visitor services
What we’ve got to offer
- A welcoming and enjoyable volunteering experience
- A full induction and training program with on-going support including a senior guide as mentor. The mentor also holds regular meetings which often include tours or walks through parts of the castle and estate rarely seen by the general public.
- Becoming part of a fantastic team with social opportunities
- Monthly meetings with a programme of speakers and othersocial events such as the annual Christmas Party.
- Historical book borrowing from the Volunteer Library
- Free Admission to visitor attractions for Volunteers (plus one adult)
- Preview Events – have the first glimpse of talks, such as Phillipa Langley talking about the ‘Princes in the Tower’.
- Complimentary lunch as well as a cuppa in the Vinery after your shift.
It’s people that make a place, without people, a place is simply an empty shell. At Raby this is certainly true, it’s our people that make Raby special. We strive to offer our volunteers an excellent learning environment and the tools to perform, enabling them to achieve their goals and be the best they can be
How to apply
If you would like to be to be part of our journey, we’d love to hear from you. If you feel you have the necessary skills, experience and personality to undertake this role, we’d love to hear from you.
Once your application is complete, our public engagement and learning officer will be in touch with you to arrange a meeting in our Vinery Cafe, followed by a tour of the castle to explain the role.
If you decide to sign up, you will be assigned your mentor who will meet with you to go through the induction process. You will then be given your volunteer badge, card and information file.
Don’t worry – you do not have to learn everything at once! You will spend your first few shifts ‘shadowing’ experienced room stewards until you are confident enough to go solo.
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