Thread by @WorkInHeritage

Hello everyone!

Today, I thought I’d focus on something which I think is hugely important for finding your feet in built heritage: volunteering.
It’s a great way to learn more about the sector, meet people, have fun and in many cases, you get that feel good factor.

#thread

Definitely in the UK, and definitely in my work, volunteers form the backbone of sector and are highly prized.

You’d be surprised how many volunteering opportunities are out there...

I started by volunteering with my local authority, updating their buildings at risk records.
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This was brilliant as it enabled me to work with the Conservation Officer, and the Historic Environment Record team at the Council. It also taught me to work quickly - as time was pretty tight!

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At the same time, I started to attend working parties for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings - the UKs oldest conservation body. Working parties are week long events, where volunteers work alongside experts to repair a historic building.

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These parties are *the best* fun. I’ve learned so much, had so much fun, worked incredibly hard, and made some of my very best friends at them.

In fact, thro @SPAB1877 working parties and events, I’ve met a loads of Irish heritage people, including the wondrous @Triona_B!

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Through this little nucleus of Irish heritage people, spearheaded by Tríona, we formed @SPABIreland ... so now, there are annual working parties (as well as MUCH MORE) in Ireland.

Hurray!

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Over 7 years volunteering with SPAB, I went from volunteering at working parties, to being a Guardian, to a Trustee and then last to co-Chair of the Society. It’s a lot of commitment but I’ve learned everything from repointing to governance along the way...!

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I also volunteer as an assessor for the Architects’ Accreditation in Building Conservation, as a judge for the John Betjeman Award for church conservation, and various other things too.

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For finding out what your interests are, and to lend some support to the sector, I really can’t recommend volunteering enough. And for someone like me, landed in a new country not knowing anyone, it was the best way to make friends...

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