Community, Participation & Volunteering Assistant

National Trust; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

Flexible working where possible

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

National Trust is seeking a Community, Participation & Volunteering Assistant for Lacock Abbey. You will help with daily operations, welcome visitors, and coordinate volunteers within the Visitor Operations team. The role emphasizes inclusivity and a welcoming atmosphere across a historic site.

The position is seasonal with flexible hours, including weekends and Bank Holidays; it is a zero-hour contract with no guaranteed weekly hours. Fixed-term until 14-Aug-2027, £13.25 per hour."

Qualifications

• Exceptional customer service for visitors.
• Able to work in a team and independently.
• Strong organisation and adaptability to changing schedules.
• Willingness to learn new tasks and processes.

Responsibilities

• Welcome visitors into Lacock Abbey and assist volunteers in day-to-day operations.
• Help ensure a warm, inclusive visit and support the Visitor Operations team.
• Assist with rota supervision and presentation standards; may help with admin tasks.
• Contribute to new ways of working and deepen relationships with audiences.

Skills

Customer service

Team player

Organised

Adaptable

Willing to learn

Job description

Summary

Working with the Senior Visitor Experience Officer, you’ll help to support daily operations at Lacock Abbey.

Summary

Working with the Senior Visitor Experience Officer, you’ll help to support daily operations at Lacock Abbey.

This role is all about connecting with people; helping everyone feel welcome and involved during their visit. Working with volunteers and interacting with visitors, you’ll be making a vital contribution to the Trust’s cause of caring for places so that people and nature can thrive, now and into the future.

Hours: Seasonal, flexible, weekends. This is a zero-hour contract, meaning we can’t guarantee a set number of hours each week. While we aim to provide a consistent work pattern, flexibility is needed as schedules may change based on business needs. We’ll try to give as much notice as possible. The role includes weekends and Bank Holidays but does not require evening or split shifts.

Typical shifts are, Part‑time, 9am-5pm, including weekend work (Additional information can be found in the Role Profile Context document)

Duration: Fixed term contract until 14-Aug-2027

Salary: £13.25 per hour

Interview dates: Friday 11th September 2026

For this role, you’ll need to complete our online assessment instead of using a C.V. or online application form. This will help us understand more about your strengths and give you more information on the role.

What It's Like To Work Here

Working within a wonderful, bustling atmosphere this role of Community, Participation & Volunteering Assistant, will support with operations and the organisation of volunteers. Together with a team of volunteers, you will provide a fantastic welcome to visitors at Lacock Abbey. You’ll connect with people and help them connect with the rich history and stories of the Abbey while also raising awareness of our conservation work.

What You'll Be Doing

As our Community, Participation & Volunteering Assistant, you'll be working within the Visitor Operations team at Lacock, helping with day-to-day operations. You’ll help to make this a flexible, positive and inclusive place for volunteers to get involved. Alongside this, you will help welcome visitors into the historic Abbey, ensuring they have a safe and enjoyable visit.

You’ll support our work in developing new ways of working together and deepening relationships with existing and new audiences. You’ll also support our teams in offering a warm welcome and working with all kinds of people.

You will work alongside volunteers and help supervise their rotas, along with helping to check and maintain standards of presentation. You may also be asked to support with some administration tasks.

Who We're Looking For

• focused on giving great service to everyone you meet
• a team player, but also happy to work on your own initiative
• well-organised and adaptable
• willing to learn new skills.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

National Trust place

Lacock Abbey & House, High Street, Chippenham, SN15 2LG

Documents

• Community, Participation & Volunteering Assistant - Career Level A2.pdf
• CPVA_A2_Role Context.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date: 30th August 2026

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.