Our volunteers make an invaluable contribution to our work, and this is one way in which you can directly support the Trust.

There are many different ways in which you can contribute your time and skills. Some roles require your help for as little as one session per week whilst others involve more time. Either way, you will soon feel a valued member of the team.

Volunteers are currently engaged in a range of activities including:

• Assisting with the cataloguing and indexing of our world renowned Library
• Assisting visitors use the extensive Records Office collections
• General farm work at Mary Arden's House which is organically managed
• Guiding visitors through Harvard House and the British Museum of Pewter
• Helping at events
• Assisting with fundraising
• General administrative work

People with relevant professional and administrative skills or experience are particularly welcome.

If you would like to learn more about the opportunities available to volunteers please contact Anne Doughty, HR Officer:

Tel: +44 [0]1789 201846
Fax: +44 [0]1789 294238
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We are presently recruiting

We are currently looking for volunteers to help us run Mary Arden’s Farm from March 2010. There are available opportunities as follows

• Tudor Household skills. Demonstrating a range of Tudor household skills such as bread baking, open-hearth cooking, dairying, spring-cleaning, fire-lighting, wash day, drop spindle spinning and darning, distilling, soap making, herbal medicine
• Rural craft and trade demonstrators. Share your skills and knowledge with visitors demonstrating your rural trade or craft. Splitting wood, fagot making, hurdle making, wood working, candle dipping, threshing, winnowing
• Gardens. Maintaining the gardens (herb garden / vegetable garden) and engaging with visitors explaining gardening methods and plant lore of Shakespeare’s time
• Farm work. Assisting the Farm Manager with the care of the farm animals and with the maintenance of the site and its structures and outbuildings
• Translators
• Guides at Mary Arden’s Farm
• Storytelling
• Music and dancing
• Tudor games
• Leading nature walks
• Meeting, greeting and directing visitors
• Replenishing stock in the shop and assisting visitors in the shop

These roles will involve constant contact with members of the public explaining the tasks and engaging with the public, so it is important that you feel confident in dealing with people and engaging the visitors. The roles demonstrating household and rural craft and trade skills will also involve you in wearing period Tudor dress, which will be provided, so you must feel comfortable with this and with explaining your dress to the visitors.

 No specialist knowledge is required though an interest in the area is desirable and relevant skills and experiences are particularly welcome. We provide a full induction programme as well as specialised training for all volunteers as appropriate.

 If you are interested in helping us or in finding out more either:

 Contact

Sallie Ashworth
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Shakespeare Centre
Henley Street
Stratford upon Avon
Warwickshire,
CV37 7NF
Tel: 01789 204016
Or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information or Click to download Application Form