Join our team of schools and family learning volunteers

Thousands of young people are inspired by their visits to Norwich Cathedral every year and our Schools and Family Learning volunteers play a really important role in sharing the Cathedral’s story with the next generation.

Those who volunteer with our Schools and Family Learning department support school visits covering everything from RE and history to ethics and science and during the school holidays they help to run our family learning days.

We are always looking for more people to join our Schools and Family Learning volunteers and you can find out more about how to apply by clicking the button below.

Below two of our Schools and Family Learning volunteers share what they love most about the role.

Eloise Garrett

23-year-old Eloise Garrett, from Cromer, started volunteering with the Schools and Family Learning team last year as part of a placement for her MA in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at the University of East Anglia.

Why did you become a volunteer?

I began working with Clare (Head of Schools and Family Learning) and the team as part of my MA placement last April, and enjoyed it so much I asked to stay on as a regular volunteer!

What does your volunteer role involve?

I help with the set up and put away of activities, and with organising the school groups. Sometimes this involves shadowing as an extra pair of hands and go-for, but occasionally involves leading small groups - once I dressed up as Mary and led a group.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love working with children in general, but especially seeing how excited and engaged they are with learning outside of the classroom.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at Norwich Cathedral in general?

I enjoy being in the general atmosphere of the Cathedral. Although I'm not religious myself, I find it a very spiritual kind of calming

Why would you encourage other people to do your volunteer role at Norwich Cathedral?

The children, the team, the atmosphere, the activities themselves... it’s all just a really lovely way to give back and enrich your own life.

Margaret Gray

Margaret Gray, 65 and from Taverham, became a Schools and Family Learning volunteer after she retired from teaching.

Why did you become a volunteer?

I’d recently finished a teaching job when I saw an advert for Schools and Family volunteers and it instantly leapt out at me. I missed the contact with young children and saw it as an opportunity to use the skills I had. I was also attracted to a role that drew together my love of working with children and my Christian faith.

What does your volunteer role involve?

Helping to lead school visits to the Cathedral and introducing children to this beautiful building. I help with a range of school visits – some focusing more on Christian belief and worship, while others have much more of a science, art or history focus. So, for example, I might have a group of about 15 children that I take on a tour round the Cathedral helping them to learn about the building and about worship here. In the school holidays, I help with family days when the Cathedral has lots of craft activities and workshops for children.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy the contact with children and the opportunity to witness the sense of awe and wonder they experience when they visit the Cathedral for the first time. Today, lots of children have very little knowledge of the Bible or of the Christian faith, and I love having the opportunity to introduce them to those things.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at Norwich Cathedral in general?

It’s lovely to walk into the Cathedral early in the morning when no-one else is around and to experience that sense of peace, calm and the presence of God. I like being part of a team too. The Schools and Family team is a really supportive one.

Why would you encourage other people to do your volunteer role at Norwich Cathedral?

It's a real privilege to work in such a beautiful building that's been a place of worship for over 900 years. If you love children and have some kind of experience of working with them it's a great opportunity to use those skills. It’s a very flexible role. There's no obligation to volunteer regularly on the same day of the week. You're sent a list of upcoming visits, and you can choose which ones you're available to help. And it’s enjoyable!

Schools and Family Learning Volunteers: Key Facts

The Role

• Supporting learning programmes for over 10,000 primary and secondary aged children each year with subjects ranging from RE and history to ethics and science
• Supporting family learning days during school holidays
• Previous experience of teaching or working with children and young people is preferable
• Drama, story-telling and art and craft skills are advantageous
• Opportunities for those able to lead tours for international students

Training

Training and support is offered by the Schools and Family Learning team and a manual is provided to support the different learning programmes.

Volunteers attend a taster session and more observation as required, take part in C1 safeguarding training and are given a guided tour of the Cathedral.

Time Commitment

Flexible, but ideally one day per week.

How to apply

Click the button below to download our volunteer application forms and email your completed forms to volunteersadministrator@cathedral.org.uk