Our Room Stewards are the face of Abbotsford and play a vital part in welcoming visitors from all around the world. All you need is a smile and a genuine interest in Abbotsford and our work. Role Description : What you will be doing* • Welcoming visitors from all over the world to the house • Managing the flow of visitors through the house and liaising with staff and volunteers throughout the site • Instructing visitors on the use of our audio guides • Offering information on the history of the rooms and objects within the house • Caring for collections and looking out for their security and welfare • Encouraging visitors to complete feedback forms at the end of their visit • Promoting upcoming events and activities to visitors • Providing directions and guidance to visitors (including other attractions within the Borders) • Promoting excellent customer service • Working as part of a team to give visitors to Abbotsford an unforgettable experience Skills/Experience required • Excellent communication skills and confidence in conversing with the public. • An interest in meeting and speaking to people from all walks of life and all around the world. • A warm and friendly personality • Excellent time management and punctuality • Commitment to excellent customer service • Be the public face of Abbotsford • An interest in and willingness to learn about of Sir Walter Scott and his descendants, Abbotsford and the Borders. • Enthusiasm to share your knowledge with our visitors

If you enjoy meeting people from all over the world, love Abbotsford and want to share it with our visitors you might enjoy joining our volunteer team as a mini-bus driver. Role Description : What you will be doing* • Complete vehicle safety checks prior to and at the end of each day and record these as per organisational procedures • Report any defects and faults as per guidelines and procedures • To be responsible for the safety of your passengers and to be aware of the relevant mini bus legislation and any Covid measures introduced by the Abbotsford Trust • To be able to use the passenger lift/ramp in a safe and responsible manner. • Ensure the correct use of the appropriate wheelchair tie downs and passenger restraint systems • When necessary assist passengers when entering and leaving the vehicle. • To work in a helpful, caring and confidential manner within the aims and objectives of the organisation. • To be self-motivated and sensitive to the needs of passengers and colleagues. • To inform the Visitor Services Manager and in their absence the Volunteer Co-ordinator of any changes to your health or endorsements that affect your driving licence or ability to drive. • To notify any incidents or accidents affecting passenger safety whilst on duty. • To work within health and safety legislation at all times. • To attend relevant training courses before carrying passengers • Ensure that the vehicle is in a clean condition (inside and out) before and after use. • Refuel the bus as required. • Contribute to mini bus service development by making suggestions and feeding back passenger comments Skills/Experience required: • Applicants must be over 30 years of age. This is an insurance requirement. • Must have a full, clean licence which includes the D1 entitlement (automatic if manual car licence obtained before Jan 1st 1997). • Over the age of 70 drivers will need to renew the ‘D1’ entitlement of their licence, requiring a medical examination (D4). This is valid for 3 years. • Over the age of 70 drivers will need to be accepted as a ‘named driver’ by Abbotsford’s insurers. Unless and until this is agreed the applicant will be unable to drive the minibus. • Be able to drive minibus/vehicles safely and professionally. Training will be given (MiDAS). • Be flexible; and able to work as part of a team • Be in good health • Be patient, understanding, have a responsible attitude and provide exceptional customer care.

Abbotsford welcomes over 40,000 visitors a year from all over the world. We have been a world-famous visitor attraction since Sir Walter Scott died in 1832.Taken over by a charitable trust in 2007, our mission is to care for his house, estate and collection and share his legacy with the world. We are looking for friendly and outgoing individuals to welcome and orientate visitors around the site. You will be liaising with the house stewards to ensure that the flow of visitors into the house is managed efficiently. Our volunteers are the face of Abbotsford and play a vital part in welcoming visitors from all around the world and making their visit unforgettable. No prior knowledge is necessary, as full training will be given. All you need is a smile and a genuine interest to learn about Abbotsford and support our important charitable work. What you will be doing: • Welcoming visitors when they arrive in the South Court • Check their tickets and orientate them towards their destination – house or gardens. • For house visitors, explain what to expect on the house tour. • Help them to download the audio tour. • Use booking sheet to manage timed entry tickets. • Stagger entry if multiple bookings for a time slot. • Manage the flow of visitors entering and exiting the house by liaising with the house stewards and the visitor centre staff. • Explain the route through the gardens and point out the chapel. • Keep informed about and actively promote other activities and events at Abbotsford. • Answer any questions they may have to the best of your abilities. The safety of our volunteers, visitors and staff is paramount to the Abbotsford Trust. We have carried out detailed Covid risk a assessments for all our volunteer roles. We monitor and adhere to all government and public health advice and guidelines and expect all volunteers, visitors and staff to adhere to our protocols.

Do you enjoy organising or being involved in exciting events? Are you a practical person who likes to meet other people and work with the public? Why not join our happy team of Volunteer Events Volunteers? Role Description : This is a varied role for someone who wants to get involved with events at Abbotsford. As an exceptional visitor attraction, public events at Abbotsford continue to play an important role in our commitment as a charitable trust to engage with the local community. Whether giving a hand with the set-up arrangements before an event starts, helping with family craft activities at Scott’s birthday or welcoming visitors to our Christmas fair, our events volunteers will enjoy a huge variety of activities within a close team. Our events take place mostly at weekends and evenings, and events volunteers can choose dates which suit them. What you will be doing* • Work within a dynamic team to deliver successful and enjoyable events for the visiting general public. • Onsite stewarding during public events. • Engage with the public, in particular families, in a range of activities. • Practical help with signage, marking out spaces for exhibitors, moving tables, putting up gazebos and so on. • Creating materials for events and assisting with the preparation work. • Basic administration tasks including photocopying, laminating etc. • Set up and break down on event days. • Post-event activities such as debriefings, clearing the site, event reviews. • Ensure the safety and enjoyment of the visiting general public complying with all Covid measures introduced by the Abbotsford Trust. • Respect the values set by the Abbotsford Trust.

Get involved with Garden Club In 2021 Hospitalfield’s Walled Garden, designed by the horticulturalist Nigel Dunnett, opened to the public. The scheme was developed to reveal the unique horticultural history of the site at Hospitalfield, which has been tended as a garden for over 800 years. The garden and grounds at Hospitalfield are maintained, made fruitful and more beautiful with the fantastic support of our volunteers who meet regularly at Garden Club. Garden Club support the development of the garden from helping weed the gardens, sowing seeds, potting up plants and assisting with seasonal projects. Our next garden project is the development of the medicinal garden. The site at Hospitalfield has been populated since the 13th century when the monks who ran Arbroath Abbey established their hotel or hospital, here where we believe that they must have grown a medicinal garden and brewed potions as medicines to improve the health and wellbeing of those who they cared for. From January 2023 we are inviting a medicinal plant specialist to design the garden with Garden Club volunteers, Hospitalfield’s grounds keeping team and soon to be appointed Community Gardener. The new medicinal garden will be planted in a large area within the walled garden at Hospitalfield. As part of our upcoming Garden Club sessions we’ll be planning, preparing, and planting this new medicinal garden. Garden Club Volunteers meet regularly from 10am to 12pm on Fridays at Hospitalfield. We’re looking for volunteers to come along and get involved in the new medicinal garden at Hospitalfield. For full information on how to get involved and accessibility notes please see our website https://hospitalfield.org.uk/support/volunteer/garden-club/ or contact us at volunteer@hospitalfield.org.uk Minimum age: 18

The Coastal Communities Museum Trust is tasked with raising funds, establishing exhibition programmes, maintaining community outreach and day-to-day running of the museum. This is achieved with support from volunteers in many roles. The Coastal Communities Museum is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is volunteer run with a Board of Trustees. In 2022 the museum will be open at 11.00am - 4.00pm, Wednesdays to Saturdays from April to end October.

The Board of Almond Valley Heritage Trust is responsible for the strategic direction of our charity. It sets and monitors policy, and provides oversight of operations and activities that are implemented by our professional team. Board members (Trustees) bring a diverse range of interests and experiences to the Board, represent a fair balance of views and perspectives, and are able to draw on many skills and strategic insights. We’re always happy to hear from individuals with appropriate interests and experiences who may be interested in joining the Board, and at present have a special interest in recruiting Board members who have insight into legal matters, or have experience in financial management. The minimum commitment sought is attendance and contribution to Board meetings that are held six times a year, normally on a Wednesday evening.

We are looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers who can regularly give us four hours of their time per fortnight. We are currently open 2 days a week from 11am to 3pm and are hoping to increase our opening hours in the near future. Duties of the role include: • Welcoming visitors and answering questions • Selling museum publications • Recording visitor information • Receiving items donated by members of the public We are looking for people who have: · An interest in Dalkeith’s history · Good people skills · Good listening skills Experience of using Word and Excel would be a bonus You can check out our website for more information about the museum at www.dalkeithmuseum.co.uk. A volunteer application form can be downloaded and printed from the site for completion. Alternatively, email volunteers@dalkeithmuseum.co.uk if you would like to be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator.

Falkland Palace and Garden welcomes over 44,000 visitors every year and there’s something here for everyone, from the Palace with a working Chapel Royal, apartments for kings and queens, stunning gardens, an orchard and the oldest tennis court in the country. Volunteers play a key role in helping to maintain Scotland’s heritage. Welcoming our visitors with a friendly smile, and helping them with stories and information about the Palace, gardens and tennis court is vital to an enjoyable visit. This is where you can help. Whether it’s explaining the role of the Keeper of the Palace or relating stories about past inhabitants, your enthusiasm and love of talking to visitors will really make their day. Main Duties: • Provide a warm welcome to all visitors • Share information and stories about the history of the palace and its inhabitants with our visitors • Help to maintain the security of the collection • Ensure adherence to health & safety requirements for visitors

To research and develop content and interpretation materials for walking routes near the Union Chain Bridge. These walking guides will be published on the project website and to inform volunteer-led walks around the area. The main focus of the role will involve: • Researching and developing content and interpretation materials for the proposed walking routes in the vicinity of the Union Chain Bridge; • Researching examples of good practice and popular local walking trails; • Co-creating online walking resources with professional interpretation experts to create a public walking guide resource. • Although not an essential requirement of the role, volunteers may be interested in walking the suggested routes, testing and recording detail about them. Skills and Experience required: An interest in history, natural history and local culture Ability to work on your own and in a team Attendance at appropriate training to develop your skills Capacity to walk for 3 miles at your own pace (if testing walking routes). Through this role you will gain: Experience of working with maps and interpreting them. The opportunity to develop your knowledge of local history, geography, natural history and culture with a focus on the Union Chain Bridge. Experience of working independently, yet as part of a bigger team.