My other one week volunteering assignment needs to be a non-school based educational setting, recommendations are museums and sports centres. Bored, bored, bored. Being based in SW London, we are heavily endowed with palaces and other buildings steeped in regal history, so I reckon, lets try the National Trust.
I have no wish to denigrate this venerable institution, but I have my prejudices. Respect mixed with a suspicion that its is run by the odd retired aristocrat, and women of a certain age sporting pink or purple rinses. With the whole thing being very, very CONSERVATIVE. Note the spelling, that’s not just with a capital C, that’s the whole thing in capitals, and if I could figure out how to do that in flashing blue lights, it would be that as well.
Given this, I find myself slightly surprised that they have ventured into the nether-world of cyber-space and have a pretty good website. Indeed, Googling “National Trust”, the second entry returned is National Trust |Volunteering. Impressive, it looks like they are in tune with the reservoir of free labour itching to do service in the cause of our architectural and cultural heritage. A few clicks later and I have identified the locations that work for me (all within a brisk walk), and am phoning the numbers provided.
At this point, a certain balance returns to the universe, it’s impossible to contact anyone on said numbers. Finally a phone is answered, and by a real, old-fashioned human being. However, they are totally non-plussed by the idea of a volunteer. Telling them how I got the number totally freaks them out, when I refer to the “website”, they have no idea what I’m talking about. After a couple of minutes of bafflement by both parties, they follow the only reasonable course of action, forward me to another number. Which no-one answers.
Things are looking pretty serious, I have 2 days to go before my holiday and no role. I decide to adopt the job-seeking equivalent to blanket bombing, and approach in person every suitable institution within striking distance, starting with the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, and am instantly rewarded. It is perfect for me, and quite possibly just plain perfect. It has a section devoted to children, with some very well thought out educational objectives linked into different activities, and, above all, its just great fun. I arrange my weeks volunteering with the first person I talk to, and am free to fly away on my much anticipated 2 week holiday.
With only those 19 books to read.
