June 2011 Newsletter

The latest newsletter is now available, download it here.

Come and join us for a day

We at Chester National Trust Volunteers celebrated our 21^st anniversary in 2009, and still have a flourishing membership in 2011, working across Cheshire, the Marches and the Wirral for three days per fortnight. The Sunday group works on the first and third weekend of every month, offering an opportunity to get out and about across the region, taking on tasks as varied as clearing overgrown pathways to building fences. No previous experience is necessary, as there is always a job for everyone and you pick up new skills as you go along.

For those free on weekdays, there are the Tuesday and Thursday work groups. The Tuesday group takes on similar tasks to Sunday volunteers, including recently laying a safe surface in a children’s play area at Speke Hall and restoring an area of heathland habitat at Bickerton Hill. The Thursday group take on longer term projects, particularly dry stone walling in the summer (currently at Chirk castle) and hedge-laying in the winter months (currently at Erddig). Tools are provided, as is a friendly welcome from all three groups. Twice per year, the group organises a working week at one of the National Trust’s basecamps, where a three-day project is undertaken. See the working holidays page for the next destination planned.

The membership includes people of all ages and levels of experience, and the variety of tasks offers something for everyone. After completing fifty hours of volunteering, there is the added bonus of receiving a National Trust volunteers card which entitles you to free entry at all National Trust properties, and discounts in some of their shops and cafes! If you are looking for an opportunity to spend time outside, give something back to the countryside and have fun – whatever your age or abilities – you can get in touch by contacting the group’s chairman, Dick Pole on 01244 683721 or Brian Payne at briansue.payne@btinternet.com.

Company Volunteer Groups

Our group of volunteers visit various National Trust properties during the year and undertake work as directed by the N T Warden. We are not employees of the trust. We welcome individuals to join us, but when we are contacted by companies or other organisations who wish to place employee groups with us, we direct them to the National Trust – see below.

 

NT have a scheme called Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV), which caters for the type of voluntary work you require.

 

You should contact NT Customer Enquiries at the regional offices:

 

Cheshire, Wirral, Liverpool, Central/South Lancashire:
Cheshire Consultancy Hub
18 High Street, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1PH
0161 928 007

nw.customerenquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

 

North East Wales Area Office
Trinity Square
Llandudno
LL30 2DE
01492 860123 wa.customerenquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk