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What is the purpose of the volunteer day?
Our corporate volunteer days are designed to support our work while giving your team a meaningful, hands-on experience. You’ll be helping us maintain and develop our site, while also gaining insight into the people we support and the impact of our work.
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What kind of activities will we be doing?
Activities vary depending on the season and current needs, but may include:
Gardening (planting, weeding, tidying, seasonal tasks)
Light maintenance or outdoor projects
Supporting site improvements
Occasionally assisting with creative or practical tasks
No prior experience is needed—just a willingness to get involved. -
What should we wear?
Please come dressed for outdoor, practical work:
Comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes (boots or trainers with good grip)
Weather-appropriate clothing (waterproofs, warm layers, sun protection) -
What should we bring?
A reusable water bottle
Any personal medication you may need
Sunscreen or hats in warmer weather
We’ll provide all tools, gloves, and safety equipment. -
What time should we arrive and how long is the day?
A typical volunteer day runs from around 9.15am to 3:30pm, but timings may vary slightly. Please aim to arrive 10–15 minutes early so we can start with a welcome and briefing.
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Is lunch provided?
We have an excellent cafe on site who will be more than happy to provide volunteers with food at subsidised rates, alternatively you may want to bring your own packed lunch.
Tea & coffee will be provided throughout the day and cake in the afternoon
We ask that you let us know if any volunteers have special dietary requirements. -
Are there facilities on site?
Yes, we have:
Toilets
Handwashing facilities
Indoor space for breaks (if needed)
Onsite parking, but it’s limited, so if you could car share with a colleague we’d be grateful -
Do we need any training or experience?
No experience is necessary. We’ll provide:
A full welcome and safety briefing
Clear instructions for all tasks
Ongoing support from staff throughout the day -
Is the work physically demanding?
Some tasks can be moderately physical (e.g. digging, lifting, standing), but we aim to offer a range of activities to suit different abilities. Please let us know in advance if you have any concerns or limitations
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What if the weather is bad?
We run in most weather conditions, so please dress appropriately. In cases of extreme weather, we’ll adapt activities or provide alternative indoor tasks where possible.
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Will we meet the people you support?
Where appropriate, yes. You may have opportunities to meet and interact with the people we support, but this will always be guided by staff to ensure a positive and respectful experience for everyone
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Are there any safety considerations?
Your safety is very important to us. We will:
Provide a full health and safety briefing
Supply appropriate equipment
Supervise all activities
Please follow all guidance given by staff on the day -
Can we take photos?
We’ll advise you on our photography policy during the briefing. In general:
Photos of your group are usually fine
Photos of the people we support are not permitted unless explicit consent has been given -
What happens if someone can’t attend on the day?
Please inform your organiser as soon as possible so they can update us.
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Who do we contact if we have questions before the day?
Please get in touch with your organiser or our team using the contact details provided in your booking information—we’re happy to help.
We’re really looking forward to welcoming you and your team. Thank you for choosing to spend your time supporting our work at Ripon walled Garden—it makes a genuine difference.
