Volunteering Opportunities January 2018

Southwark Cathedral is a diverse community whose members participate in its mission and ministry in a host of ways. More than 450 volunteers play their part in the day-to-day life of the Cathedral. New volunteers are most welcome and volunteering vacancies are advertised on the cathedral website under southwarkcathedral.org.uk/community/volunteers and in the weekly notice sheet. The cathedral is a signatory to the London Volunteer Charter.

Find out how you can be involved.

Tours and Visitors, p.2 In and around our services, p.8 Welcome Desk Volunteer Hospitality Team Welcomers Bellringers Guides The Guild of Stewards Shop Volunteers The Guild of Servers

Behind the scenes, p.4 Community, p.10 Vergers’ Help Day Chaplains Broderers Helping the elderly Flower arrangers Robes Night Shelter Project Hanging Committee Office Volunteers More ways to be involved, p.11 Friends of Southwark Cathedral Children and young people, p.6 Interest and action groups Education Centre Choir chaperones Cathedral School Helpers Junior Xpress and YouthXpress

If you would like to know more about volunteering with us, please contact

Michelle Ford, Volunteers’ Officer [email protected] 020 7367 6739

1 Tours and Visitors

Welcome Desk Volunteer Welcomers

The Welcome Desk is the point where Welcomers are part of the public face of all visitors who enter the Cathedral are the Cathedral. They welcome visitors and greeted within the context of the Cathe- look after groups during the times when dral Chapter’s “Ministry of Welcome”. the Cathedral is open to visitors and We are looking for volunteers to provide there are no services taking place. They a warm and friendly welcome to every work closely with Guides, Day Chaplains person visiting the Cathedral, demon- and Stewards. Training is given. Wel- strating sensitivity to the variety comers should have a friendly, outgoing of visitor needs. While no formal skills personality and be good with the public. and qualifications are needed for this role, we do ask that volunteers are able to More information and contact offer a warm, friendly welcome to all visi- Michelle Ford, Volunteers’ Officer tors and maintain a calm and professional [email protected] disposition even in stressful situations. 020 7367 6739 This opportunity would suit someone who wishes to volunteer in a setting that supports a historic London landmark, has Guides or wants to gain experience of volunteer- ing in tourism. Guides conduct tours of the Cathedral and the surrounding area on weekdays We are looking for a team of volunteers and Saturdays. Guides are required to to help throughout the week, committing know the history of the Cathedral, its to either a half-day or whole day, weekly monuments and artefacts. They must or fortnightly on a set day. also be aware of its pastoral and religious role. They need also to be aware of the More information and contact other visitor and tourist attractions in Michelle Ford, Volunteers’ Officer the immediate area. Detailed training is [email protected] provided. Guides should have a friendly, 020 7367 6739 outgoing personality and be good with the public.

More information and contact Ruth Miller, Visits and Tours Officer [email protected] 020 7367 6734

2 Shop Volunteers

We would love to hear from anybody who would like to volunteer in our busy Cathedral shop. Ideally you would be able to commit three hours a week, or alter- nate weeks, on a set day. No experience required and full training is provided but you should be confident handling money and be able to learn to use an electronic till system competently. The shop is open seven days a week: Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm and Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 5.30pm.

More information and contact Jon Dollin, Shop Manager. [email protected] 020 7367 6710

3 Behind the scenes

Vergers’ Help Flower Arrangers

The Vergers have a huge job looking after The flower arrangers provide the flower the Cathedral and ensuring the running of arrangements for the Cathedral. You will services. They welcome help with general need an appropriate level of skill and be duties including cleaning silver and dusting able to work to a large scale. An eye for and polishing in the Cathedral. colour and design are important as is a knowledge of flowers, their condition- More information and contact ing and the mechanics of arrangements. Paul Timms, Head Verger Newcomers will be given help. The team [email protected] normally works on Friday morning in the 020 7367 6701 Cathedral having previously arranged for the purchase and delivery of flowers.

Broderers More information and contact Pat Ellis The role of the broderers is to maintain, [email protected] conserve and make vestments and other textiles for the Cathedral. The Guild of Broderers meets on Monday morning Hanging Committee from 10.00am to 2.00pm. Many of the broderers are highly skilled. The Hanging Committee arranges and hangs the cathedral’s art exhibitions. It is More information and contact a small committee, passionate about art. Mary Howell, Head Broderer It meets artists, considers their work, and 020 7367 6700 (This is the Cathedral hangs eight or nine exhibitions a year in switchboard. Please ring and your name the Refectory. will be passed on.) An important and satisfying part of its work is its support of organisations like Crisis or Help the Aged.

More information and contact Chris Owens [email protected]

4 Office Volunteers

We occasionally have opportunities in the Cathedral offices for volunteers to help with specific projects or to work with the finance or administrative departments. Applicants need to be able to work accu- rately. IT skills are sometimes necessary.

More information and contact Matthew Knight, Comptroller [email protected] 020 7367 6700

5 Children and young people

Education Centre Choir chaperones

Learning can be brought to life with a visit Choir chaperones are needed to sup- to Southwark Cathedral! port the music staff in their work with the children in the boys’ and girls’ choirs. Southwark Cathedral Education Centre Tasks included attending weekly rehears- is looking for volunteers to lead a range als helping to supervise the choristers on of exciting, engaging and experiential trails their arrival, departure and during breaks. and workshops for children and young We need people who are able to com- people. municate with young people between the ages of 7 and 17 with a genuine interest in This role is ideal for those who enjoy the Cathedrals choir and their work. working with children or who would like to work with children. More information and contact Peter Wright, Director of Music Experience of working with children is [email protected] ideal but not necessary as full training 020 7367 6703 will be given. Susanna Bloomfield, Pastoral and Volunteers will be required to: Music Administrator • Undertake relevant training [email protected] • Engage in an annual appraisal 020 7367 6732 • Attend termly staff meetings • Be in sympathy with the Christian ethos of the Education Centre Cathedral School Helpers

The Education Centre is a popular and A chance to help local children learn the over-subscribed resource. If you think you vital skill of reading. Weekdays. might be interested in joining our friendly and supportive team, phone or email for More information and contact an informal chat or to arrange a visit. Marion Marples [email protected] More information and contact Lisa Bewick, Education Officer [email protected] 020 7367 6715

6 JuniorXpress 1 & 2 and YouthXpress On Sunday mornings volunteers support a programme of activities designed to help children and young people to grow in their faith and understanding. Volunteers will be subject to normal child safeguarding checks.

More information and contact Michael Rawson, Sub Dean and Pastor [email protected] 020 7367 6706

7 In and around our services

Hospitality Team Bellringers

This is a good way to start volunteering The Southwark Cathedral Society of if you are new to the Cathedral as you Bellringers ring for the main services at will meet many members of the congre- the Cathedral and for weddings, memo- gation when they come for coffee. The rial services, and other special occasions. time commitment is one Sunday a month Practices are on a Wednesday evening and you will be working in a team of four from 6.30pm until 8.30pm. people. The team starts at 10.00am mak- ing and serving coffee and soft drinks for The 12 bells are historic, heavy, and hard the choir before the main 11.00am Sunday to ring and only experienced ringers service and for the congregation after it. can ring them. Although the Cathedral Then they clear and wash up and finish at Bellringers do not teach novices to ring about 1.30pm. Team members are free to they have links with other towers locally take part in the service. and can offer advice on where to go to learn. The Bellringers compete with other More information and contact bands at the highest level in the National Comfort Omotosho, Team Leader 12-bell competition. Speak to her or one of the hospitality team after the 11.00am Sunday service or More information and contact email [email protected] Hannah Taylor, Ringing Master [email protected] southwark-bells.org.uk

8 The Guild of Stewards The Guild of Servers

Stewards help manage the movement of The Servers assist with the liturgy at people at the Cathedral during services the services on Sundays at 11.00am, the and special occasions. A team of stewards 6.00pm services (on the first and fourth is on duty for most services. Sundays of the month), principal feasts falling on weekdays and for other special Stewards should be welcoming and services. Training is given and volunteers sensitive to the needs of the congrega- become members of the Guild of Servers. tion and visitors. They should attend the Cathedral regularly. They work closely More information and contact with the clergy and vergers to make sure Paul Walker, Head Server that everyone is welcomed and that the [email protected] services run smoothly. Mark Charlton A one-day training course is given and [email protected] new stewards then shadow in a team to gain experience.

More information and contact Linda Ridgers-Waite, Chair, Guild of Stewards [email protected]

9 Community

Day Chaplains Robes Night Shelter Project

Day Chaplains are people with proven Volunteers are needed to help with the pastoral experience that equips them Robes project - an ecumenical team to minister appropriately to visitors who of volunteers using church premises may need a listening ear, or someone to to provide food, friendship and shelter pray with them or may need referral on for homeless people during the winter to a source of further help. months. Help is needed with administra- tion, cooking, hosting and laundry. More information and contact Christine Jenkins More information and contact [email protected] Marlene Collins [email protected] Helping the Elderly

Volunteers visit elderly people in local sheltered housing for tea on Wednesday afternoon. There are developing links with local businesses (gardening, comput- ing) which could also be supported.

More information and contact Marion Marples [email protected]

10 More ways to get involved

Friends of Southwark Cathedral Interest and Action Groups

Volunteers support the work of the There is also a range of Interest and Cathedral for example by preparing the action groups. These are groups, mostly Friends’ newsletter for mailing, selling led by lay members of the congregation, books at our book sales, providing hospi- and based on a shared passion, that of- tality for visiting groups and working as a fer a further variety of ways for you to trustee. If you have the odd day free we participate in the life of the Cathedral may have a volunteering opportunity to community. suit you. More information and contact More information and contact southwarkcathedral.org.uk Kate Dean, Friends’ Secretary [email protected] 020 7367 6724

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Southwark Cathedral London Bridge London, SE1 9DA

020 7367 6700 southwarkcathedral.org.uk