A local charity in Brixton, the Friends of Windmill Gardens, is launching a new recruitment drive for volunteers at the iconic Grade II* listed Brixton Windmill. With a new education centre due to open in the summer, the need for volunteers has never been greater.
There is a variety of volunteer roles available, so whatever your age, experience or availability you can find something to suit you. Even just a couple of hours every few months can provide a huge benefit to the charity. It’s a great opportunity to use your existing skills, develop a brand new skill or hobby, demonstrate a can-do approach on your CV and meet new people from all walks of life.
Volunteer roles include:
Tour guide: Become part of the team who help bring the windmill to life for visitors, providing a friendly and informed welcome. In return you will have a great opportunity to gain new skills as well as improve your communication, historical knowledge and public speaking skills.
Miller: Help the team of millers who keep the historical millstones turning to provide a regular flow of flour for visitors and local retailers. Learn a unique skill where you can see the fruit of your labours in the form of our famous Brixton Windmill flour.
Baker: Our home-made cakes are very popular with visitors on open days and provide extra income to support our activities. A fabulous opportunity for seasoned bakers or those that want to get into it – you never know, this may provide the practice you need to win the Great British Bake Off one day!
Events officer: Helping to organise our festivals and events offers a wonderful chance for anyone with good organisational skills or who wants to get into an events or marketing related career. You’ll find yourself doing anything from hiring musical acts to sourcing straw bales!
Gardener: A great activity for physical and mental health, this is also a good way to make new friends – take part in planting heritage wheat as well as making the park attractive to wildlife and visitors.
Press officer: Another great opportunity for people looking to build their CV, or for anyone with experience of working with press or social media.
Fundraising officer: Are you a dab hand at writing bids or charming corporate sponsors? Come and apply those skills to preserving Lambeth’s heritage!
Building manager: With our new education centre due for completion in the summer, we need people to advise on running and maintaining a building.
All help welcome!
Just as important as the above is general help for a couple of hours on open days – serving tea, selling merchandise and helping set up and take down exhibitions. No experience required – just a smile and willing attitude!
All roles include training – with comprehensive training included for tour guides and millers – as well as full support from other volunteers.
Nick Weedon, a volunteer tour guide, said, “I’m so proud of the difference we are making to the Windmill Gardens. We have introduced regular social activities attractive to locals regardless of their background, have helped make physical improvements to the park and have successfully campaigned to restore the mill itself. There’s a role for everyone in the charity and you will quickly be able to see how your time is benefiting the community.”
Jean Kerrigan, Chair of the Friends, said, “Our new education centre, due to open in the summer, will allow us to expand our activities and workshops. It’s hugely exciting, but we also need a bigger team of enthusiastic and committed volunteers to ensure that it provides maximum benefit to the community.”
You can find a leaflet on volunteering at the Brixton Windmill here.
If you’re interested in getting involved you can either send a simple enquiry, or fill in and send our volunteer form, to: info@brixtonwindmill.org.uk
