Inspiring Visitor Experience Volunteer

Overall Purpose of the Role:

Wakehurst welcomes over 430,000 visitors per year to explore and enjoy the botanical gardens managed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

This role sits alongside and will be managed by the Wakehurst Visitor Centre Team, to engage with and provide a seamless, consistent, and high-quality experience for all visitors to Wakehurst. Supporting the Visitor Centre team, this role will assist in main Visitor Centre ensuring high standards of customer service and presentation are maintained.

At Kew, we recognise that diversity enriches the work we do and welcome volunteer applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. Our aim is to provide equal opportunities to all volunteers, ensuring they are treated fairly, without bias or prejudice, while fostering an environment where everyone can contribute meaningfully.

This role would suit volunteers who:

• Enjoy interacting with people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds
• Have excellent communication skills
• Have previous experience in a public facing role
• Are knowledgeable about the work of Kew / Wakehurst
• Enjoy being on their feet

Main Tasks of the Role:

• Provide a warm welcome for visitors
• Engage with visitors while they wait to enter the gardens to find out what they want from their visit and to suggest options
• Speak with visitors to encourage positive behaviour in the gardens and to make them aware of both our garden code of conduct and our canine code
• Provide information on garden highlights, planting themes, conservation and research
• Be up to date with information and ready to answer questions around events and general site information, including opening times etc
• Provide a visible presence for visitors to ask questions
• Meet tour groups / large groups as required
• Helping with wheelchair access and mobility scooter training

About You:

• You enjoy engaging with people with a wide range of ages and interests and being in a public facing role.
• You will have a good knowledge of plants and gardening and the desire to share this with others
• You will be familiar with Wakehurst / Kew and our work
• You will be a great communicator and enjoy passing on your interest in Wakehurst's work to our visitors.
• The main qualities we are looking for are enthusiasm and commitment to this role. We encourage a weekly contribution of at least half a day a week.

What to expect from us:

• A full induction, training and ongoing support and supervision
• Opportunities to learn about Wakehurst and Kew, and the world-renowned science, conservation and horticulture behind our living collections
• To be treated fairly and with respect
• To be part of a friendly and dedicated team and volunteering community
• Reimbursement of actual travel expenses incurred up to a set value
• Wakehurst volunteer corporate wear

What we expect from you:

• An interest in horticulture and science and in developing your knowledge about Royal Botanic Gardens Kew & Wakehurst's work.
• Willingness to attend training to give you the knowledge you'll need.
• Flexibility and willingness to give support where necessary.
• To be able to contribute a minimum ideal of 4 half days per month.
• Recognition that with a Kew uniform on, you represent the organisation and its values and have a willingness to uphold them.

For further information please contact William Pradel at