Introduction
There are many great reasons to volunteer with Royal Botanic Gardens Kew at Wakehurst as an Explainer or Guide. For some it is about sharing their passion for the natural world, meeting new people, or ‘giving something back’, while for others, being involved with Kew and learning more about our work is the driving force for their volunteer commitment. Whatever your reason, there is no better time to join our thriving volunteer community.
What would volunteering as an Explainer or Guide entail?
Wakehurst is Kew’s wild botanic garden and is located in the heart of Sussex. We have around 40 Horticultural Staff working on our 535 acre site, as well as a large number of volunteers, who support us in the gardens. The team manages a range of different landscapes with plants from all around the world. Guides and Explainers sit within this section but also link to all the other teams that work at Wakehurst, namely the Education team, Visitor experience, Programmes, Marketing & Communications and Science.
Taking on an Explainer role initially, volunteers focus on specific areas of the garden to build their confidence, experience and knowledge. As time moves on, as training is imparted and everyone feels ready, explainers may be invited to move on to leading the more formal guided tours of the site.
What are the volunteering hours?
The days on which Guides and Explainers can volunteer is very flexible, and we create a monthly ROTA which volunteers sign up for. Volunteer Guides and Explainers can come in on a regular day or keep it flexible and help to fill gaps. We ask that guiding volunteers are able to commit to attending at least 8 of the 12 monthly training sessions per year, and when fully trained, are able to commit to a minimum ideal of 2 full days (or 4 half days) per month. Many of our guiding volunteers have the flexibility and willingness to give additional support where necessary, which is always hugely appreciated.
What do volunteers wear?
All volunteers are issued with corporate volunteer clothing (fleece, polo shirt and waterproof), and are asked to wear dark colours on their lower half ideally. As visitor facing volunteers, having a professional, smart image is hugely important.
What next?
If you would like to volunteer with the Wakehurst team, all you need to do is complete the application form. We will then invite you in for an interview. Following that we have initial training and assessment and will let you know if we can offer you a placement once that process is completed. Please be aware that we always have more applicants than we have spaces for, so if you are not successful this time round, you can always try again when we next recruit.
If you would like any further information or advice, please feel free to call Cathy Cordery, Engagement and Volunteering Manager, Wakehurst for a chat on 01444 894093.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Main tasks of the role
* Provide a warm welcome for visitors
* Lead informative tours for groups of visitors around the gardens
* Take on a roaming ‘explainer’ role if there are no participants for a scheduled tour
* Provide information on the plants, planting themes, conservation and research
* Provide information about the history of the estate
* Tailor tours to the needs, interests and access requirements of the group, adapting tours accordingly
* Provide general orientation of the site
* Be up to date with information and ready to answer questions around events and general site information, including café opening times etc
* Provide a visible presence for visitors to ask questions
About you:
* You enjoy engaging with people with a wide range of ages and interests and being in a public facing role.
* You are a great communicator and enjoy passing on your interest in Wakehurst’s work to our visitors.
* You have a good level of fitness and are able to comfortably lead a walking tour for at least an hour
* The main qualities we are looking for are enthusiasm and commitment to this role. We encourage a commitment to at least 4 tours per month and attendance at at least 8 of our 12 monthly training sessions per year.
Skills and abilities required:
The role of both an Explainer and a Guide involves much more than giving information (“telling”) and imparting knowledge: our aim is that our Explainers and Guides inspire members of the public by helping them to connect with their own interests from what Wakehurst offers (and sometimes discover their passions!).
An ability to inspire others means that Explainers and Guides need to be genuine and connect well with others. This involves what they see and hear from their audience, what they say and how they say it. Below are some of the skills and abilities we hope to see in our Explainers and Guides:
Listening: to what their audience is saying or not saying – and acting on it so that their tours meet the audience expectations, varying for example the level of detail in accordance with questions.
Observing: body language, how different topics are received.
Being self aware: having an understanding of their own passions, their strengths as well as their own areas for development, so that they can appreciate the occasions when their tours become more about their own interests rather than their audience’s and refocus.
Storytelling: Guides and Explainers are initially and via ongoing training all taught the same range of information, but they are not scripted. They must therefore be able to communicate this information to others so that it comes across in a genuine and authentic way – and can captivate their audience with memories that they will tell their friends about.
“Just enough”: sow the seeds of a story rather than telling it from A to Z.
We are looking for people who are comfortable being themselves and reflecting values of honesty and integrity: Confident but also humble; Knowledgeable but not knowing everything; Keen to learn, eager to listen. Training and assessment in these skills is an ongoing process and we encourage all our guiding volunteers to participate fully in these sessions.
What to expect from us:
* A full induction, training and ongoing support and supervision
* Opportunities to learn about Wakehurst and Kew, and the world renowned science, conservation and horticulture behind our living collections
* To be treated fairly and with respect
* To be part of a friendly and dedicated team and volunteering community
* Reimbursement of actual travel expenses incurred up to a set value
* Wakehurst volunteer corporate wear
* Free entry to Wakehurst and Kew for yourself and an accompanying adult
* Discounts in Wakehurst and Kew shops and eateries, workshops and special events
What we expect from you:
* An interest in horticulture and science.
* An interest in developing your knowledge about RBG Kew & Wakehurst’s work.
* Willingness to attend training to give you the knowledge you’ll need.
* Ability to commit attending at least 8 of the 12 monthly training sessions per year.
* Flexibility and willingness to give support where necessary.
* Understanding that this role will require annual assessed observation.
* To be able to commit to a minimum ideal of 2 full days (or 4 half days) per month.
* Recognition that with a Kew uniform on, you represent the organisation and its values and have a willingness to uphold them.
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