On Saturday, 15 Oct about 30 people participated in the Volunteers' Forum in the Education Centre at the Palace. Refreshments were in abundance and anticipation was in the air. The presentations were interesting and informative (read more here), but it was the discussion topics that really got volunteers talking.
Rachel put forth the idea of “Give it a Go Day” which was received with much enthusiasm. Starting in early Spring, volunteers will be given the opportunity to swap roles with other volunteers for one week. So if you are a Tour Guide who likes the idea of gardening at the Palace, Give it a Go Day will be your chance. Or if you are a Visitor Reception Assistant you will be able to help in the Education department for a day. It’s a great opportunity to discover other interests, use different skills, mix with other volunteers, and get to know another aspect of the Palace.
Arlene’s “How to Approach the Public about Site Rules” also prompted lively discussion. Ball games, dogs, bicycles, scooters, sun bathing, tree climbing, dropping rubbish and BBQs all came up as forbidden or restricted activities often observed on site. Volunteers were advised to wear their badge and to approach people confidently, positively and consistently. In the Forum's minutes, which have been uploaded onto the Portal, you'll see more related advice too.
The number of Volunteer Representatives, who provide a key two-way channel of communication between the volunteers and staff, are being increased at the Palace. This role offers volunteers the opportunity to support the development of the volunteering programme. For the role description and how to apply, please visit the resources page.
Volunteers were reminded to think about innovative ways to raise money. Any fundraising ideas should be directed to Rachel at rachel.bray@fulhampalace.org.
Finally as "Ambassadors of the Palace", volunteers were encouraged to spread the word about Fulham Palace and distribute marketing literature about the site in your surrounding communities to reach new audiences. Sue also suggested volunteers could write a short piece about the Palace for your local Parish Magazine. Everyone agreed this was a fantastic idea!
We'd love to keep the discussion going beyond the Volunteer Forum, so please do comment in the box below with anything you'd like to discuss about volunteering at the Palace, or indeed please comment on any of the blogs you read here.
- Nancy (Vol Comms Asst)