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Thirlestane Castle Trust
- VO104828
Become part of the long and wonderful volunteering history at Thirlestane Castle by being a member of the team that brings its heritage to life for everyone to share.
Thirlestane Castle is open to the public for guided tours from April to October, and for private guided tours the rest of the year. We receive five-star reviews for our guided tours which are delivered with passion and often humour by our guides who help to bring to life the castle’s long history.
If you have an interest in history and enjoy engaging with the public, you may like to become a tour guide.
Main tasks:
• Greet visitors as soon as they arrive at the castle. This includes meeting coach groups and welcoming them to the castle.
• Describe points of interest both outside and within each room of the group and answer any questions (training provided)
• Deliver consistent and high-quality tours
• Personalise tours by putting on own spin, such as making jokes and providing insightful commentary
• To be engaging and friendly with visitors
• Oversee the safety of visitors on tours
• Check to see whether any visitors have mobility issues and offer alternatives as necessary. The guide may need their helper to support visitors to access alternate entrances or staircases within
the castle.
• Learn about key safety procedures and explain this to your tour group
• Provide any further assistance that might be needed, including during emergencies
• Help with other areas as needed such as hospitality and retail.
Required skills, qualities and experience
• Customer service skills
• Excellent verbal presentation skills and the ability to engage people
• Flexibility
• Patience, sensitivity and understanding
• An interest and knowledge of history
• A good memory
We hope that volunteers will be able to commit to a session each week, but appreciate that this may not always be possible. A session will be either a morning or afternoon and will last approximately three hours.
Experience required
Previous experience in a historic house would be an advantage but is not necessary. An engaging personality and the ability to happily interact with visitors is more important. An interest in Scottish History and an ability to speak clearly and concisely, or a passion for gardening and the great outdoors.
Travel details
Thirlestane Castle, Lauder, Scottish Borders
Support
Training details
• Introduction to Castle
• Health and Safety
• Support and Supervision
• Training specific to role
• Buddying system in operation
Taster available
Restrictions
Minimum age: 20
No significant mobility issues
Volunteers (aged 20-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
Find out more
Please fill out this form to register your interest in the opportunity Thirlestane Castle Volunteer Guide with Thirlestane Castle Trust
Your email address and phone number will only be used by the organisation/TSI you are contacting to discuss in more detail the opportunity you are enquiring about.
Your message will be sent to the organisation that supports volunteering in Scottish Borders:
Contact name: Volunteer Team Borders
Email address: volunteering@borderscommunityaction.org.uk
Phone: 0300 124 7522
Thank you for registering your interest in Thirlestane Castle Volunteer Guide with Thirlestane Castle Trust.
Scottish Borders TSI has been sent your details and message, they will respond to you at the email address you provided.
Something has gone wrong, please let us know about this issue at milosupport@scvo.scot quoting reference #VO104828.