The wonderful work of dozens of dedicated volunteers lies at the heart of the magic of Belvoir Castle. Brimming with knowledge, our volunteers can be found dotted throughout the estate, ready to answer your questions, give handy tips to enhance your visit, or provide more general assistance. If you’ve ever wondered what a typical day looks like for one of our volunteers, you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re a history buff, or have a green fingered touch, there’s a place for you. Our volunteers can either choose to be one of our Castle Custodians in the main house or assist our head gardener keeping the gardens spick and span.
Our Castle Custodians are experts on all things Belvoir. Having undergone tailored in-house training, they know everything from a complete timeline of the castle’s history, all the way to the nearest restroom. On site from 10am – 5pm, most of our Custodians act as guides. Situated throughout the castle, our friendly guides are ready to share exclusive historical tales and titbits on artefacts that you won’t find on the information boards. If they’re up for more of a challenge, guides can graduate to a tour guide, giving personalised guided tours of the castle to visitors. Our tour guides know more about the family and their history than just about anyone, and what they don’t know about the castle isn’t worth knowing. Speaking to one of our guides will truly enhance your visit, as they know the best routes around the castle and can point out our hidden gems. Our Custodians are all fully Fire Safety trained, with many also being First Aid trained in the unlikely event that you need assistance.
Our garden volunteers put their keen horticultural skills to good use, tending to and planting the fabulous curations selected by our head gardener during the Spring and Summer months. Already exceptionally knowledgeable, garden volunteers have access to the best training and advice in horticulture from our head gardener Andy Tudbury. In preparation for our Spring 2024 re-opening, our volunteers have lovingly planted 6000 bulbs and 900 roses. The colder weather gives volunteers a chance to flex their creative muscles, getting to assist with the design and layout of the next year’s showcase. Recently, our garden volunteers were instrumental in the design and construction of new floral archways.
Although volunteer work is rewarding in and of itself, there are other perks to being a volunteer at Belvoir. As previously mentioned, our volunteers have access to fantastic in-house training programs which encourage the deepening of passions and the honing of new skills. Volunteers also have a mileage claim allowance and free parking for getting to and from the castle when on Belvoir business. On their days off, parking and castle entry are always on us, and volunteers can bring a friend for free too. They also have access to exclusive discounts in all the restaurants, cafes, and shops throughout the estate (including the Engine Yard!)
If any of that sounds exciting to you, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always looking for new volunteers, so if you’re interested in joining our community, please do apply to [email protected] to make your mark on our thousand years of history.