Volunteering

About our volunteering opportunities

All volunteering is suspended for now but we are making plans to restart our volunteer work programme once it is ok to do so. Your health and welfare is very important to us and we want you to feel safe whilst carrying out a role at all times. Once we have our new measures in place, we will publicise them.

If you are interested in volunteering, do get in touch and we can prepare everything with you from home, so you are ready to start once we can begin safe working again. Feel free to read our information below.

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Do you want to work in beautiful Eskdale? Do you want to learn new skills? Do you want to get involved in a local charity project? Can you provide 1-2 days per week?

We require practical help in the newly landscaped Miller’s Garden and somebody to carry out maintenance throughout the buildings and the grounds.

Mill attendants, tour-guides, receptionists, gardeners and waterwheel operatives are also needed to support our visitor services here at Eskdale Mill.

You will find volunteering with us to be a quality experience working within a small historical complex and idyllic grounds dating back to the 1500’s. You will enhance our visitor experience and keep our wheels running smoothly.

You will get to carry out a range of transferable skills and gain valuable experience whilst working as part of a friendly team. You will gain opportunities to develop existing skills and receive further relevant training. You will gain confidence and further your own career prospects and/or ambitions whilst helping to support a special facility that couldn’t operate without volunteer help.

Now that the mill has undergone major restoration works and we have re-opened our doors to regular visitors (approximately 200 per week in 2019), the Mill Manager requires practical support and visitor service team workers during our opening hours (Summer: Weds-Sun, 10.30 – 16.30 Winter: school holidays and some weekends, 11am-15.30) and to help set up and close down for the day.

For details of available roles, see here job roles apr 2020

To apply click on this link Volunteer Registration Form June 2020 KH and complete the registration form. You can email it or post. Alternatively, call to discuss further.

You can view our recruitment poster here  volunteer flyer feb 2020

What we’re looking for

People who are willing to learn new skills and to work as part of a team with people from all ages and backgrounds.

We require more mill attendants to be on hand to provide support to visitors as and when they require help or have questions.

For those interested in delivering tours, public speaking and communication skills are vital as well as the need to learn and remember historical facts and information. A sense of humour and patience is also helpful.

Numeracy, public interface and till skills are needed for the reception area but training will be given.

The mill operation is an active role and requires patience, good observational skills, good health and safety consideration and practical know-how, although all training will be provided.

Gardeners and grounds maintenance workers require a good sense of safe working, practical ability and a willingness to learn new skills.

Practical considerations

Travel expenses are provided. Car parking is limited in the small village of Boot but it is possible. Dalegarth station has a pay & display ticket system which we will reimburse you for.

All training and PPE will be provided.

Toilet facilities are available.

Historical building and grounds throughout so wheelchair access is limited but possible in the reception area.

For the mill operation and grounds maintenance, physical capability is essential.

If interested, please contact Kate Hughes on 01946723335 or volunteers@eskdalemill.co.uk to arrange for an informal chat/induction.

About Eskdale Mill & Heritage Trust

EMHT was formed in 2006 by local people who wanted to preserve the mill as a historic building open to the public. The Trust is dedicated to the continued operation of the mill as part of its preservation and development for public benefit, and to promotion of the history, heritage, geography and geology of Eskdale.