Knightshayes Volunteer Role Description
Visitor Reception and Retail Assistant
What is a Visitor Reception and Retail Assistant?
Visitor Reception and Retail assistants are vital to help with the smooth running of the
Knightshayes reception and shop. Playing a pivotal role in the welcoming of our visitors,
ensuring they have access to all the information they need, this role is hugely important in
supporting the staff in this team. In addition to meeting and greeting, the role helps support
us in meeting sales targets, by providing a friendly and helpful service for all our visitors
looking to purchase something from the gift shop or plant centre.
What’s in it for you?
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Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team
Meeting people from all walks of life and making new friends
Taking pride in helping to make a profit for the charity
What’s involved?
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Being a friendly face and providing a warm welcome for all our visitors
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Being familiar with Knightshayes so that you can answer questions about any
department; helping ensure all our visitors have access to all the information they
need, whether that be via a welcome map, telling them about the soup of the day or
simply letting them know where the toilets are.
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Scanning membership cards as visitors arrive
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Serving customers in the shop by:
- helping them to find what they’re looking for
- drawing their attention to items that may be of interest
- entering sales onto the till and taking payments
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Keeping the shop and reception areas clean and tidy- re-stocking displays and leaflets
and pricing-up items
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Greeting coach groups as they arrive- scanning members, assisting with ticket sales,
promoting the guidebook, and letting people know where they can find more
information.
This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally
binding one or an employment contract
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Helping care for, water, merchandise and actively sell plants in the plant centre area
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A willingness to assist with sales and promotion on the Kitchen garden gatewelcoming visitors, checking tickets, being an information point for those visiting the
garden, and selling produce from the turret sales area.
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Being aware of any security risks and raising any concerns you have with staff
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Becoming familiar with and then following the National Trust’s Health and Safety
Policy at all times
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Giving any other appropriate assistance as may be reasonably requested by another
member of staff
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Willingness to attend training sessions, workshops and team meetings as requested
This role will suit people who… have a friendly, proactive and helpful nature.
Ideally you will be confident about handling cash and happy to use a till, thought prior
experience isn’t necessary. If you thrive in helping others to help get the best out of their
day, then this role is perfect for you.
Extra information
Your place
Knightshayes
Time commitment
Once a fortnight, or more if you can
Volunteer Manager
Alice Morgan-Brown, Visitor Services Manager
Staff Contact
(if different)
Margaret Firth, Visitor Reception and Retail Manager
Liz Abdey, Retail Supervisor
Helen Wooler, Reception Supervisor
Training/Resources
You will be given full till training where necessary for your role.
Expenses
Out-of-pocket travel costs between home and volunteering place
will be paid, and other reasonable expenses agreed in advance
About the National Trust
The National Trust is a registered charity and is completely independent of Government. We
rely for income on membership fees, donations and legacies, and money raised from our
commercial operations. We are supported by over 4 million members and 61,000
volunteers without whom we simply could not manage.
This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally
binding one or an employment contract
About Knightshayes
Taken on by the Trust in 1972, Knightshayes is one of the finest surviving Gothic Revival
houses, built in the lush landscape of mid-Devon, Knightshayes Court, and is a rare example
of the work of the eccentric architect William Burges. The restored and fully productive
organic kitchen garden is a treat for everyone who enjoys local produce and the vast formal
garden, which was the Heathcoat Amory family's great passion, is renowned for its rare
trees, shrubs and seasonal colours. The National Trust took on Knightshayes in 1972, and
began an extensive and ongoing restoration project to show the house as it is today.
If you are interested in applying, please contact the Property office on 01884 254665, or
email [email protected].
This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally
binding one or an employment contract