Discover the different ways you can volunteer at Castle Howard
The volunteers at Castle Howard play a vital role in preserving this extraordinary family home by engaging with the public and generating interest in local heritage. By joining the volunteer team, you will have the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills, spend time in beautiful surroundings, experience behind-the-scenes tours and be part of a wonderful team of people.
Find out more about our volunteer roles
(Every day but particularly Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays)
Welcome our visitors and bring Castle Howard's history to life.
What is a Room Guide?
Room guides have a vital role to play in the daily operations of Castle Howard. From inspiring visitors with the historical collections within the house and grounds to giving a warm welcome to visitors as they make their way around the house. Room guides will be positioned around the house experiencing each room and learning about the collections. Room guides also play an essential part in safeguarding the collections and artefacts.
What’s in it for you?
What’s involved?
This role will suit people who have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, enjoy meeting new people, enjoy operating as part of a team and who are keen to learn. Historical knowledge or in-depth knowledge of Castle Howard is NOT required for this role.
(7 days a week)
As a retail volunteer you will contribute to ensuring that our Gift Shop is a welcoming, inspiring, and commercially successful operation.
What is a Retail Volunteer (Gift Shop)? Our retail department is a vital part of our visitor attraction, allowing us to provide inspiring merchandise that will continue to be cherished long after a visit to Castle Howard. Our retail environment also provides a key opportunity for us to engage in meaningful dialogue, with our colleagues often the last touch point before a visitor leaves the Estate at the end of their day. This is a diverse role based within our House Gift Shop, with varying levels of tasks. You may be involved in preparing new stock for the upcoming season or be assisting and welcoming visitors during a busy day in the Gift Shop. As a retail volunteer you will contribute to ensuring that our Gift Shop is a welcoming, inspiring, and commercially successful operation which ultimately helps preserve Castle Howard for the future. What’s involved? There are a variety of different activities you will have the opportunity to engage in, including:
Who would suit this role? This role would suit anyone who:
How will you benefit?
How will we support you?
Extra information Time commitment: weekly/fortnightly, 10am - 3pm, but hours are flexible to suit you. We are looking for volunteers for weekdays and weekends. This voluntary role runs from March - December every year. What’s next?
(Monday to Friday)
Help the environment by caring for trees in our Tree Nursery.
What is a Tree Nursery Assistant?
The Castle Howard Tree Nursery is a small and relatively unknown area of our Estate, but it has a proud and successful history dating back almost 50 years, and has seen exciting large scale expansion within the last two years. The role of tree nursery volunteer will be very important in supporting our staff with the growing demands of the tree nursery, from the collection of seeds from on the Estate, nursery maintenance tasks, and helping to prepare orders for customers.
A background in horticulture is not required, as the role will receive plenty of support from our friendly tree nursery staff, although a positive attitude to working outdoors, learning about trees and a willingness to learn new things, would be beneficial.
This role will suit people who have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, are keen on learning new skills, and enjoy working as part of a collaborative team. Good general health and fitness will be ideal for this role, as tasks may often involve working outside in cold, wet conditions, being on your feet for long periods of time, and walking on uneven ground. An ability to follow instructions competently and work independently at times would also be a great asset, although training and support will be provided before and during tasks.
Time commitment:Hours are flexible to suit you. We are looking for volunteers on weekdays for this role.
What’s next?
Keep our environment and grounds pristine for visitors and wildlife.
What is a Litter Picking Volunteer?
Castle Howard is a 9000-acre Estate which welcomes visitors year-round to our historic mansion house and grounds. As a Litter Picking Volunteer, you will play a vital role in maintaining the beauty and cleanliness of the Castle Howard Estate. Your efforts will help protect the local environment, support wildlife conservation, and ensure that visitors enjoy a pristine and welcoming landscape.
This role will suit people who have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, enjoy being customer facing and are confident working alongside the general public. This role is outdoors so someone who enjoys being out in all weathers is preferred. Tools and PPE are provided.
Time commitment: weekly/fortnightly, 3 hour shift minimum, but hours are flexible to suit you. We are looking for volunteers for weekdays and weekends. This voluntary role runs year-round.
(Thursday - Sunday)
Welcome our younger visitors and help them engage with history and heritage through fun crafting activities.
What is a Summer Crafting Volunteer?
Get hands-on with history! Help visitors create plaster casts and molds, inspired by the restoration of the Tapestry Drawing Room in the House this year. Engage families in this fun, creative activity while sharing the story of craftsmanship and conservation at Castle Howard. This role is based outdoors in the summer months, so will involve being out in all weathers that the Yorkshire Summer has to offer.
This role will suit people who are creative, and have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, enjoy being customer facing and are confident working alongside the general public. An in-depth knowledge of Castle Howard is not required for this role. The role will be based outside in the summer months so someone who enjoys the great outdoors in all weathers is necessary.
Time commitment: weekly/fortnightly, 11am - 3pm from Thursday to Sunday, but hours are flexible to suit you. This voluntary role runs in the school summer holidays, July – August.
(Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays)
Care for Castle Howard's spectacular Gardens and Grounds and help them to thrive.
What is a garden assistant? Volunteering in the grounds as a Garden Assistant, every day is different. As a garden assistant you will join the team of gardeners in the walled garden and Grounds ensuring it continues to look beautiful all year round. What’s in it for you?
Is this role for me?
This role will suit people who have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, enjoy being outdoors in all weathers, have an interest in gardening and planting, and wish to contribute your time to maintaining the beautiful walled garden.
Provide the all-important first impression to our visitors arriving by coach.
What is the Coach Welcome Role? Castle Howard Coach Welcomers provide the all-important first impression to our visitors arriving by coach. This role involves warmly and enthusiastically welcoming our Coach Groups by boarding the oach and addressing the passengers, welcoming them to Castle Howard, providing ‘teaser’ information to get them excited for their visit, signposting amenities and handing out tickets and maps. Once the coaches are welcomed, the Coach Welcomer will then head into the Courtyard to welcome arriving visitors, signpost them to where they need to go, answer questions and upsell membership to Castle Howard. The Coach Welcomer does not need to be a ‘history buff’ as this role focusses on engaging enthusiastically with visitors from all walks of life, offering them a world class welcome and contributing to our exceptional visitor experience.What’s involved?
Who would suit this role?
This role would suit anyone who has an enthusiastic and friendly manner, is confident in and enjoys speaking to and meeting new people, is happy to operate as part of a collaborative team and is keen to learn. This is a role especially suited for anyone with experience in or an enjoyment of providing exceptional customer service. Historical knowledge or in-depth knowledge of Castle Howard is not required for this role. You will be provided with all the resources and training you need to fulfil this role.
This role is part of the Ticket Office/Admissions team and is looked after by our Admissions Manager. Two Ticket Office Supervisors are also there to support you. Whilst welcoming coach groups, there are the Visitor Attraction and Security team members who you will work alongside in this room and can offer you support. Extra information Time commitment:
Twice a week, 9.30am -15.00pm, but the hours are flexible to suit you. We are looking for volunteers 7 days per week, including weekends. This voluntary role runs from March/April-October every year, with opportunities to continue volunteering in November and December.
Training/Induction:
As part of your induction, you will spend time with the Admissions team whilst you learn the ropes. You will also receive an information pack, and an opportunity to explore the House and Grounds as a Visitor to be able to make personal recommendations. You will also be trained on our Membership scheme to be able to upsell this to our visitors.
Expenses:
Travel costs to and from Castle Howard for your volunteering shift will be covered (up to a total of 40 miles), including public transport.
(Wednesdays)
Support our outdoor team to restore our natural environment.
What is a Conservation Volunteer?
Castle Howard Estate extends across a land bank of 9,000 acres which includes a patchwork of farmland, woodland, parkland and grassland. This protected landscape is managed by the wider estate team, including staff from the Natural Environment team and the Gardens and Landscape team, as well as our farming partners, tenant farmers, foresters and conservationists. Castle Howard has a long history of responsible land stewardship, and the estate is now working to develop strategies and projects that protect and restore nature across this landscape in response to the combined climate and biodiversity emergencies. As part of these efforts, we are establishing a nature conversation volunteer programme and invite applicants to become part of a hard-working, effective and proactive team who will be undertaking roles that accelerate these aims.
There is an extensive list of nature conservation jobs that this volunteer team will be working on, from helping establish our nature restoration project at Bog Hall, removing plastics from the natural environment, protecting delicate habitats from invasive species, maintaining iconic features such as the stray and creating new habitats such as hedgerows, wetlands and woodlands. This opportunity will allow you to immerse yourself in our beautiful landscape and leave a lasting positive impact on nature across the Howardian Hills.
A background in conservation is not required, as the role will receive plenty of support from our expert teams, although a positive attitude to working outdoors is necessary, as we can’t guarantee the weather.
This role will suit people who have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, are keen on learning new skills or have experience to offer and enjoy working outdoors as part of a collaborative team. Good general health and fitness will be required for this role and tasks will often involve working outside year round, including cold and wet conditions, being on your feet for long periods of time, and walking on uneven ground. Suitable candidates will be able to demonstrate that they can follow instructions competently, learn skills over time and to work safely in a team. Training and support will be provided before and during tasks.
Time commitment: 1 day a week (Wednesday), from 10am till 4pm.
Help make our retail outlets look inspiring with creative displays.
What is a Visual Merchandising Assistant?
Our retail department is a vital part of our visitor attraction, allowing us to provide inspiring merchandise that will continue to be cherished long after a visit to Castle Howard. Our retail environment also provides a key opportunity for us to engage in meaningful dialogue, with our colleagues often the last touch point before a visitor leaves the Estate at the end of their day. This is a diverse role based within our House Gift Shop or Farm Shop, with varying levels of tasks. You may be involved in creating displays on the shop floor, helping price up new stock, supporting the team in making up our window displays and making sure the shops are looking tidy and enticing to customers. As a retail volunteer you will contribute to ensuring that our retail space is a welcoming, inspiring, and commercially successful operation which ultimately helps preserve Castle Howard for the future.
What's in it for you?
This role will suit people who have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, enjoy being customer facing and are confident working alongside the general public and have an interest in and passion for Castle Howard and the wider surrounding area. Someone who is creative, with an interest home interiors and design trends would be perfect for this role. An in-depth knowledge of Castle Howard is not required for this role. An appreciation of Heritage interiors, landscapes, and art; basic numerical skills or experience and being comfortable with the level of physical fitness required to help with retail deliveries, including carrying boxes of stock would be beneficial.
Time commitment: weekly/fortnightly, 10am - 3pm, but hours are flexible to suit you. We are looking for volunteers for weekdays and weekends. This voluntary role runs year round. What’s next?
(Mondays and Fridays)
Help the plants in our Garden Centre thrive and help members of the public with all their plant care needs
What is a Garden Centre Plant Care Volunteer?
Our Garden Centre is a vital part of our visitor attraction, allowing us to provide plants and gifts that will continue to be cherished long after a visit to Castle Howard. Our retail environment also provides a key opportunity for us to engage in meaningful dialogue, with our colleagues often the last touch point before a visitor leaves the Estate at the end of their day. This role is based within our Garden Centre, with varying levels of tasks. You may be involved in getting the outdoor plants looking healthy and beautiful, helping price up new stock and making sure the shop is looking tidy and enticing to customers. As a retail volunteer you will contribute to ensuring that our retail space is a welcoming, inspiring, and commercially successful operation which ultimately helps preserve Castle Howard for the future.
This role will suit people who have an enthusiastic and friendly manner, enjoy being customer facing and are confident working alongside the general public. We are looking for people who have a passion for plants and gardening and already have a good base of knowledge on the subject. An in-depth knowledge of Castle Howard is not required for this role. Being comfortable with the level of physical fitness required to help with retail deliveries, including carrying boxes of stock would be beneficial.
Time commitment: weekly/fortnightly, 10am - 3pm, but hours are flexible to suit you. We are looking for volunteers for Mondays and Fridays specifically. This voluntary role runs year round. What’s next?
Register your interest
Are you looking to improve your team’s wellbeing while giving back to nature? At Castle Howard you can get out in the fresh air guided by one of our resident experts, there are over 9000-acres to the Castle Howard Estate, with lots of opportunities for companies to get involved in our outdoor conservation projects. Activities can include wildlife conservation, tree planting, land management such as invasive species removal, weeding, mulching and garden maintenance, seed collection and coppicing. We can also adapt this for people who may find this type of work challenging.
For the day, we provide the following: • Tea and coffee on arrival • Transport to working site from Castle Howard (if applicable for our outdoor projects) • A safety briefing from our Head of Natural Environment • Appropriate PPE inc Gloves and tools for any outdoor activities • Access to our welfare space known as The GatehouseThis is priced from £40.00 per personCatering You are welcome to bring your own packed lunches, you can purchase food from one of our catering outlets, or we can provide a catered lunch in one of our private event spaces.The day typically runs from 9:30am – 3.30pm. A rough itinerary for the day is as follows: 09.30: Arrival at Castle Howard, Tea and Coffee 10.00: Head to outdoor project site and commence activity 13.00: Lunch - return to Welfare area if required. 14.00: Head back out to project area to finish activity or additional activity.Additional activities that can be booked for the afternoon session are as follows: • Self-guided house and gardens tour • Grounds only self-guided tour • Talk by Resident Experts (including Curatorial Team or Natural Environment Team) Volunteering is available Tuesdays and Thursdays.
We want your experience of volunteering to be as welcoming and enjoyable as possible, so we will:
You can contact us by email: volunteer@castlehoward.co.uk. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
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