Festive Volunteering at Wimpole: Bringing Christmas to Life

Images credit: NT

At Wimpole, the magic of Christmas is brought to life not only through its historic setting but through the generosity of volunteers who give their time during the festive season. The volunteer managers at Wimpole give us an insight into the important role a volunteer plays for their organisation.

Can you tell us a little about your organisation and what your Christmas or festive volunteering project involves?

Wimpole is a National Trust property, with a Georgian mansion, spacious parkland, beautiful gardens and a working farm. We are a charity and so rely on volunteers to support us with the important work that we do. In the house at Wimpole we have room guides throughout the year who, as well as ensuring the safety of visitors and collection, help us interpret the history of the house. At Christmas this is also the case, but with some added sparkle. We look for volunteers to help us fulfil this role at a busy time, for a short period and no expectation of further commitment. We fast track inductions and training so that they can get stuck in as quickly as possible. This has often appealed to those who are not available through the rest of the year, or those unsure if they would enjoy the role and see this as an opportunity to have a taste of what it might be like.

What makes your festive volunteering special or different from other times of the year?

The atmosphere at Wimpole when volunteering at Christmas is very special. Everyone who visits is enjoying the festive season, spending time with family and friends, making memories and creating traditions. You can feel it when you are in the house and engaging with our visitors, and it creates a wonderful feel for the volunteers. The excitement and wonder when looking at the decorations in an already beautiful house is contagious. It is a short-term voluntary role, so there is no commitment, which means we have more people giving it a try without feeling tied into the role. It is a great introduction into volunteering in the house, and so many decide to stay on to volunteer at other times of year, based on this experience.

How do your volunteers help make a difference during the festive season?

Having extra volunteers over Christmas helps us fill gaps in the rota that we have previously struggled to fill, ensuring we can keep the house open for our visitors to enjoy. Our volunteers play a vital role in keeping visitors safe in case of an emergency and safeguarding our collection, but they also add a huge amount to the visitor experience, bringing the house to life, which is particularly valuable during the festive season.

Do you have a favourite memory or moment from past festive volunteering projects?

Not one particular memory, but my favourite thing is to see how much our volunteers get out of spending time with us. Watching them go from feeling apprehensive and unsure if they will be able to remember everything or ever find their way around such a big house, to taking it all in their stride and telling me how much they enjoy their days at Wimpole. Seeing them make new friendships and watching their confidence grow is so rewarding.

Volunteer Perspective: Sarah Lunnon, Christmas Experience Volunteer

What made you want to volunteer during the festive season with Wimpole?

“Volunteering doesn't have any pressure attached and I wanted to be in a happy place, with kind, festive people and a bit of escapism from the real world and Wimpole certainly didn't disappoint”

How does it feel to give your time and support at this time of year?

“It makes you feel happy. So many people just saying a simple thank you restores your faith in human kindness.”

What has been your most memorable or meaningful festive volunteering moment?

“Volunteering in the Housekeeper’s room, evoking memories of people's childhood whilst listening to carols being played in the chapel next door.”

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering over Christmas?

“It's an opportunity to be part of something special. To step back in time and easily imagine how life used to be. An escape from the modern rush of commercial Christmas, a chance to chat with interesting people from all over and to finish the day with a smile.”

While our Christmas volunteering role is specifically designed to be short-term, volunteers are always very welcome to come along and try out a role with no obligation to stay long-term. Check out the roles here.