Organisation Name:
Fairfax House
York
Organisation's Cause(s):
Conservation
Heritage
Local History
Museums
Location of voluntary activity:
On site at Fairfax House (indoor museum environment with small courtyard)
Fairfax House
Castlegate
YO1 9RN
When are volunteers needed: Our volunteering slots are split across all 7 days into no more than 2 ½ hours as follows: 10:00 am – 12:15 pm 12:15 pm – 2:30 pm 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
We offer volunteers the chance to commit fortnightly or weekly (or even more if you like) for one of these time slots. Please note that our available slots to fill will change throughout the year. To learn what slots we have available, please contact our Operations Manager first.
Fairfax House is always looking for people to join our Room Hosting Team, especially on Fridays and Saturdays!
Type of Voluntary Activity:
Conservation
Customer Service
Greeter / Welcomer
Role description:
A classical architectural masterpiece of the eighteenth century, Fairfax House was originally the winter home of Ann Fairfax and her father, the 9th Viscount of Emley. Its richly decorated interior was designed by York’s most distinguished architect, John Carr. Extensively adapted in the twentieth century as a cinema and dancehall, Fairfax House was saved from collapse and returned to its former glory by York Civic Trust in 1983-84. Today, Fairfax House once more transports you to the splendour of city living in Georgian York, the centre of polite society. The superb Noel Terry collection of furniture, clocks, paintings, and decorative arts, described by Christie’s as one of the finest private collections of the twentieth century, perfectly complements the house, bringing it to life and creating a special lived-in feeling.
Room Hosts play a key role in creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for our visitors underpinned by an informative approach. Our Hosts help bring the house to life, sharing its history and stories with visitors and contributing to the quality of their visit.
What’s Involved?
· Greeting visitors as they enter a room and being ready to help them with any questions they might have.
· Offering details and talking engagingly about the house, collection, and room in which you are hosting.
· Helping to inspire visitors to discover more about our collection.
Skills and behaviours needed for the role:
To be a Room Host, you don’t need vast knowledge, just a passion to inform, inspire and engage the thousands of people who visit this property each year. This role is suited to those who have an interest in history, particularly the Georgian period, and is ideal for people looking to enhance career opportunities or explore a loved topic as a new hobby.
Will there be a DBS check? No
Driving Licence required? No
Volunteer's own vehicle required? No
Suitable for:
Ongoing Volunteering
What will the volunteer gain/benefit from:
· The opportunity to volunteer in a beautiful historical environment where you can grow your knowledge of Georgian York.
· Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team where you can meet people from all walks of life and make new friends.
· All volunteers receive 10% off in our museum gift shop and are gifted a Northern Museums Pass to encourage visits to other museums across the North of England.
· An invite to our monthly volunteer events and access to our monthly newsletter filled with new research and updates about the house.
How to get involved:
To apply, please email [email protected] for our simple application form, head to the website or pop into the museum and ask for more information at the front desk.
To find out more or ask any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected]
Web link: Click here
Closing date: 13-01-2027