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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.

This Trustee Week, we’re shining a light on the people who give their time, expertise, and passion to help charities thrive. Trustees play a vital role in shaping the vision, governance, and impact of the organisations they support — and their contributions make an incredible difference in our communities. We spoke with Syd, Chair of the Board of Trustees at W3RT (Watford & Three Rivers Trust), to hear about his journey, insights, and advice for those thinking about becoming a trustee. What inspired you to become a trustee, and what motivates you to keep giving your time and expertise? “Clock, the company I founded in 1997, was made possible through help from The Prince’s Trust. So I’ve always felt a sense of gratitude and appreciation for that, along with a desire to give back. Being a Trustee is a great way of doing that.” What impact do you feel your organisation has made in the community since you’ve been involved? “W3RT has myriad impacts on the local community — from HCNS to community centres and the Chamber of Commerce. Since I joined, we’ve brought the Chamber under our wing to ensure the connection between business and the community continues to develop. We also opened and now run the Lord Lieutenant’s Charity Hub in conjunction with Warner Bros. This has helped build a close community of charities who support each other.” What have you learned about leadership, collaboration, or decision-making through your trustee role? “As Chair of the Board of Trustees, I’ve had to develop leadership skills specific to the voluntary sector. There are sensitivities and aspects unique to this world that mean decisions have to be made differently.In the commercial world, I’m paid to take risks and ultimately drive profit (although we are a BCorp, so People and the Planet are equally important). But charities work differently — I’ve learned that finding consensus is key. Things also tend to take a bit longer!” What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a trustee for the first time? “Get on with it. There’s almost always a ‘try-before-you-buy’ option, which gives you a chance to see if it’s for you before you commit. But when you do, give it the priority it demands — if you’re not engaged, you won’t be any use. And remember, you’ll usually sign up for a fixed term. So set yourself some goals to achieve in that time, and give it your all.” Trustees like Syd play a crucial role in strengthening local charities and the communities they serve. Their leadership, experience, and commitment help ensure that vital services can continue to grow and reach those who need them most. If Syd’s story has inspired you to use your skills and experience for good, explore current trustee opportunities across Hertfordshire here.

Each year on 5th November, we celebrate International Volunteer Managers Day, a moment to recognise the incredible people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support, guide, and champion volunteers. These individuals play a vital role in building strong, caring communities by helping others to give their time, skills, and compassion where it’s needed most. Volunteer managers are the bridge between organisations and the people who want to make a difference. They nurture confidence, provide direction, and ensure that volunteers feel valued and supported throughout their journey. To mark this special day, we spoke with Sarah-Jayne McClane, Senior Volunteer Coordinator from Hertfordshire Mind Network, to hear her reflections on the role and what it means to her. What does being a Volunteer Manager mean to you? Being a volunteer manager is both a challenge and highly rewarding work. It is a real privilege to walk alongside someone from the start of their volunteer journey to finish and everything in between. Volunteering is such a needed part of the vital work we do. Can you share a moment or achievement that made you particularly proud of your volunteers or team? There have been several volunteers who have gone onto paid employment within Mind, it is always really heartwarming to see this transition, especially when they have gone full circle and started as a client, progressing to volunteer and then moved onto paid employment. What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about managing volunteers? I think the most rewarding aspects of the job are seeing how volunteering is so impactful both in the lives of clients and the volunteers themselves. It is often overlooked, but can play a major role in an individual’s wellbeing. Some of the more challenging aspects of the job can be trying to expand and change the way we work to encompass the growth of Hertfordshire Mind Network. We now have over 160 volunteers so as a volunteer team we need to constantly evolve to meet the needs of all our volunteers and the clients they support. How do you see the role of volunteering evolving within your organisation or the wider community? Volunteering is now becoming much more of a ‘bread and butter’ service. Particularly within HMN we are seeing a really high calibre of volunteers, with a wealth of experience doing a variety of different roles within our organisation. This could be compared to a picture in the past where there would be few volunteers, in a small number of roles. Recognising the Heart of Volunteer Management Sarah-Jayne’s insights perfectly capture what Volunteer Managers Day is all about - celebrating the dedication, care, and leadership that go into supporting others. Her reflections remind us that behind every successful volunteer programme are people like her, working passionately to ensure that volunteers feel empowered and valued. So today, on International Volunteer Managers Day, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteer managers, coordinators, and leaders who make volunteering possible. Your work strengthens communities, changes lives, and inspires others to give back.