Community Engagement and Outreach Volunteer

Keywords

16+ Suitable Community Engagement Customer Service Environment Events Heritage History Outdoors Visitor Experience

Description

Why does English Heritage need my support?

We need volunteers who are friendly, creative and enthusiastic to help identify engagement opportunities within the local community and to attend these off-site events (such as village fairs or community group meetings). You will represent and promote our sites to keep local people engaged, and to encourage visits and involvement back at your base site.

As a member of the Reaching Greater Heights Project team, your role will be to support the Community Engagement Assistant with the planning and delivery of our free, community engagement programme essential to the project. This will involve:

• Supporting the Community Engagement team with running public consultations and collating data collected while out speaking to the community.
• Liaising with local partners and groups to encourage involvement and engagement from those living in the local area
• Assisting the team with event and activity planning
• Assisting with the delivery of community events
• Reaching out to groups and partners with the possibility of attending local meetings on our behalf 

This role will primarily be out in the town of Dover and at Western Heights. There will also be sessions at Dover Castle and other local sites.

This is a fixed-term project role at Dover until February 2026. There may be the potential for further community engagement volunteering with EH following the project. 

What will I be doing?

You will work closely with the site team and other volunteers to help develop and deliver a plan for community outreach, this may include;

• Attending local community events, to help run a stall or stand
• Attending local community group meetings, presenting to groups about our sites as places to visit and volunteer
• Talking with people of all ages and backgrounds, listening to them and inspiring them with your knowledge and interest of local heritage
• Helping to identify community locations (such as libraries or community centres) where we could promote our sites with stand-alone promotional materials (like leaflets, posters or a small roller popup display).

What will English Heritage expect from me?

• To be the friendly face of English Heritage and deliver excellent customer service
• To be reliable in attendance and dependable
• Help us maintain the highest standards of presentation at our sites and properties
• To wear English Heritage volunteer uniform where provided
• Help us protect our properties and collections by understanding and following our security and safety procedures
• Maintain good working relationships with staff, other volunteers and members of the public
• Attend appropriate training and learn about the work of English Heritage
• Observe organisational policy and procedures
• Safeguard confidential information about English Heritage and let us know about anything relating to your role or the work of English Heritage that you think might be controversial
• Any documentary or other material (including any copyright applying thereto) you are provided with or created by you in respect of your volunteering will be the property and copyright of English Heritage (unless otherwise agreed in writing)

What rewards come with volunteering, and how does it create meaningful change?

How will this role create meaningful change?

As a Community Engagement and Outreach Volunteer with the Reaching Greater Heights project, you’ll play a key role in helping local people feel seen, heard, and genuinely involved in shaping the future of Dover’s historic sites. By supporting events, gathering community insights, and building relationships with local groups, you’ll help platform a wide range of voices—ensuring that our heritage reflects and includes everyone. This is important, hands-on work that strengthens community ties and deepens public connection to the places that matter. At English Heritage, we believe Heritage is for everybody, and we’re here for heritage—and in this role, you’ll help bring that core value to life.

What can I expect from English Heritage?

• A welcoming and enjoyable experience
• To be treated fairly and with respect
• Recognition and appreciation for your contribution
• A full induction and training programme with on-going support
• Reimbursement of reasonable local travel costs between home and volunteering location within agreed limits
• A certificate to demonstrate work carried out for English Heritage is available on request to show future employers or further education providers 
• You will be covered by English Heritage’s own indemnity arrangements in respect of all liabilities that may result from your appointment as a volunteer

What support and training will I receive?

Full training will be provided by English Heritage and will include:

• Familiarisation with site and staff 
• Role specific training, including a background to all the local groups already involved in the site, main contacts and how to approach them, as well as an overview of regular events and how they have worked previously
• All relevant health and safety training

You will have the ongoing support of a friendly staff and volunteer team to answer queries you may have and help you settle into your role. 

Requirements

What skills, qualities and experience do I need?            

You will be confident engaging with external stakeholders and members of the local community. You will bring a passion for history to the role; encouraging and promoting the benefits of heritage to a wider audience. You will enjoy teamwork, and sharing and supporting fellow volunteers and staff across various departments in planning and delivering events. Volunteers in this role are able to work well independently and possess basic knowledge of IT, including email, Excel, Word and PowerPoint. 

A good level of fitness and mobility is essential when supporting event delivery. 

You will be required to provide one reference.