Volunteer

Current Opportunities

We’re looking for help! Join our front-of-house Stewarding teams to help bring Charleston, its collection and new exhibitions to life for our visitors.

Volunteer Information Morning – Friday 24th August, 10:00am
If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering, we’d like to invite you to an informal information morning. Please register your interest by filling in an application form (below) – we look forward to hearing from you and hope to welcome you on board.

 

ROLE: Gallery Steward Volunteer – Wednesday – Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday, all year
From 8 September 2018 Charleston will be hosting a year-round programme of exhibitions in our new Galleries.  Gallery Stewards invigilate the spaces and also provide additional support to the House.  We are keen to recruit a new, friendly and diverse pool of volunteers to help us at this exciting time.

Please view the role description here: Gallery Steward Volunteer

ROLE: House Stewarding Volunteer – Sundays & BH Mondays, March – October

Our House Stewards form the backbone of our front-of-house volunteering programme. Every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, stewards talk to our visitors to help bring Charleston’s collection to life, while also protecting the house and its contents. Sunday volunteers also get the added bonus of a piece of cake. For more information about the role please view House Steward Volunteer

ROLE: Learning Volunteer – all year

Our Public Programmes and Learning team are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help support a growing programme of engagement at Charleston, allowing us to reach more families and schools. We want to build a team of dedicated volunteers to support these activities. For more information about the role please view Learning Volunteer   

ROLE: Garden Volunteer – all year

Our Head Gardener is looking for enthusiastic, knowledgeable gardeners to assist with numerous tasks in helping to maintain the beautiful Charleston grounds and gardens. For more information about the role please view Garden Assistant 2018

 

 

Applications

If you are interested in volunteering with us for any of the above positions, please fill out the Volunteer Application Form and send to: Volunteer Applications, The Charleston Trust, Charleston, Firle, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 6LL or email volunteer@charleston.org.uk

If you have any access requirements or any other requests that you feel would help us to accommodate your needs both during an initial meeting and subsequent involvement at Charleston please let us know. In line with being an inclusive organisation we will accommodate all reasonable requests.

Volunteer Application Form: WORD version

Volunteer Application Form:  PDF version

 

Equality and Diversity

The Bloomsbury group at Charleston forged a new way of living in the early 20th century, with Charleston acting as a living space of freedom and tolerance. Love and friendship, pacifism, atheism, homosexuality, open relationships and further diverse modes of living were actively embraced.

The Charleston Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity, providing an inclusive and co-operative environment in which all individuals volunteering for and on behalf of the organisation feel respected and able to give of their best. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, disability, religion/belief, marital status, gender, sexual orientation or age.

 

Volunteering Benefits

In recognition of their invaluable contributions to Charleston, volunteers enjoy a range of benefits including:

• Free entry to the house and garden during the open season
• 25% discount in the Charleston Shop and Charleston Café
• Discounts and offers for events and launches at Charleston (at the discretion of the Head of Public Programmes and Learning)
• Tea and Coffee on the days you volunteer
• Invitations to several social events at Charleston and outings for volunteers each year (2016 volunteer social occasions included talks at Towner and The Keep, a trip to Bath’s Victoria Gallery with curator’s talk, a trip to a Bloomsbury collector’s house, a Summer Garden Party and a Christmas Party)
• Travel expenses up to £6 for each occasion volunteering at Charleston.

You will be given your Charleston Volunteer card after 12 volunteering hours. It will be valid for that year and must be presented to receive your free entry to the house and discounts.

 

Why Volunteer?

We are continually grateful for the time, energy and expertise that volunteers bring to Charleston throughout the year. There are many opportunities across different areas of the organisation, from helping with office administration to weeding the garden and working with the public. We hope to provide volunteers with experience and references they can use in developing a career in the arts, as well as a place to develop friendships and have fun.

“Volunteering here has enriched my life immensely and I have developed not only a deeper knowledge of the Bloomsbury group and the Charleston collection, but a profound affection for the place that will never leave me.” Clare.

“For me, volunteering at Charleston opens up a world that leads to so many fascinating insights into art and society in the early 20th century, particularly the Bloomsberries. I enjoy talking to the visitors, and seeing their reactions, particularly if they are enthusiasts.” David.