Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteers – Cumbria

Booklet Distributor – Somerset

We are looking for a Booklet Distributor for Somerset.  This will involve delivering the annual county booklets in February to Tourist/Local Information Centres, Garden Centres, Libraries anywhere else that might be useful. Essentially, the Booklet Distributor manages the distribution of the county booklets in a timely manner to ensure widespread availability in the county south of a line that runs west to east from Brent Knoll to Frome. At the end of the season you will take stock and discuss what will be required for the following year.  Further details can be obtained from laura.howard@ngs.org.uk 01460 282911.

Treasurer – Cambridgeshire

We are looking for a Treasurer to join our County Team. The successful applicant would need to be a confident user of IT, happy to support Garden Owners with the gradual transition to an online financial reporting and payment system. We are looking for someone with a ‘can do’ attitude. Click here for a full role description . Please contact pam.bullivant@ngs.org.uk for more details.

County Organiser – Gwynedd

Gwynedd are looking for a County Organiser to head up their team of volunteers.  Please download the role description below for full details. Please email nigel@cae-newydd.co.uk  for more details.

Role Description – County Organiser

What we’re after:

Volunteers who live in the Poole and Bournemouth area who have a keen interest in gardening and are able to dedicate some spare time to help us raise much needed funds for our dedicated nursing and healthcare charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Carers Trust and the Queen’s Nursing Institute. We need your help supporting our garden owners with the gardens that already open for the National Garden Scheme in this area and also with recruiting new gardens, as we continue to grow and raise more money for our beneficiaries.

What we expect from you

We are a community of passionate individuals who care about what we do. Every one of us is important and we could not do what we do without you.

We ask that you:

• Always treat National Garden Scheme staff, fellow volunteers, garden owners and visitors with respect, consideration and appreciation
• Ask your National Garden Scheme volunteer contact for guidance if you don’t fully understand your role and the standards of performance required of you
• Bring any support, development or further information requirements to our attention
• Uphold and demonstrate National Garden Scheme values
• Let your volunteer contact know if your circumstances change and affect your ability to volunteer

What you can expect from us

Inspiring, rewarding, sociable, a joy and a privilege are just some of the ways our volunteers describe their experience as part of our team. We want you to have the same experience and to get the most out of your new role.

So our commitment to you is that we will:

• Always treat you with respect, consideration and appreciation
• Ensure you have a clear idea of your responsibilities and the information you need to fulfil these
• Provide training for your role where appropriate
• Provide fair, honest and timely feedback on your contributions
• Update you as to how your work makes a difference
• Demonstrate our values in all interactions with you
• Provide you with a key point of contact for any concerns or queries

Interested?

Please contact Alison Wright, Dorset County Organiser on 01935 83652 or 07538 385350, or email alison.wright@ngs.org.uk

Assistant County Organisers – Cornwall

What we’re after:

Volunteers who live in either the Redruth/Perranporth/Newquay area or in the Bude/Launceston area. We need your help with recruiting new gardens and supporting the gardens that already open for us.

What you will get:

To be part of a friendly, happy team.

The opportunity to meet people with a passion for gardening and see their amazing gardens.

The knowledge that you are helping to raise funds for the wonderful caring charities that we support.

Lots of opportunities for tea and home-made cake!

Interested?

Please contact Christopher Harvey Clark on 01872 530165 or suffree2012@gmail.com

Publicity volunteer – Herefordshire 

Herefordshire are looking for a volunteer who could help with publicity for their lovely gardens.

For publicity they would love someone who has a knowledge and interest in social media.

This role involves co-ordinating the production and distribution of the local county booklet and organising advertising sales. For more information contact David Morgan County Organiser tel: 01214 423595 email: meandi@btinternet.com or Alan Nokes tel: 0121 445 5520 email: alan.nokes@ngs.org.uk

County Booklet Co-ordinator role description

Social Media volunteers – Powys

We need some social media volunteers to help us publicise the mainly private gardens that open to the public in Powys to raise funds for the marvelous charities we support.

What we’re after:

• People familiar with using Facebook, Instagram or Twitter
• Folk with a feel for a quirky story to excite people’s interest.
• We have gardens throughout Powys but we’re open to volunteers posting about the open gardens in your area.
• You can do as much or as little posting as you wish.

And you get:

• Stunning gardens created by some amazing, interesting people as your subject matter.
• To be part of a happy band of Powys based volunteers.
• A warm fuzzy feeling that you’ll be supporting charities like Macmillan, Marie Curie, Mind and Parkinson’s UK
• Oh and access to substantial amounts of cake!

Interested? Contact Susan for a chat: 01686 650531 or email susan.paynton@ngs.org.uk

Volunteer Photographer – Dorset

Our team in Dorset are looking for volunteer photographers. Professional images are always VERY welcome, but keen amateurs can make a huge difference too. Capture some of our beautiful gardens & have images published online and in print. Please contact Alison Wright 01935 83652  or wright.alison68@yahoo.com for more details.