If you’re looking for something to do with your spare time and you’re interested in giving back to the community, then volunteering at Valentines Mansion could be just perfect for you.
Situated in the beautiful Valentines Park, our historic building is open to the public every Sunday and Monday, with several restored period rooms for visitors to enjoy. Since opening to the public in 2009, hundreds of thousands of people have coming through the doors, eager to step back in time and explore the vast history of the Mansion, its people and its architecture.
Our volunteers are key in ensuring our visitors have an enjoyable experience – by welcoming visitors and offering advice & facts on the Mansion and it’s 320 plus years of history.
Here we talk with one of our newest recruits, Uma Pandya, a former teacher, on why she chose to become one of our valued volunteers:
Why did you choose to volunteer at Valentines Mansion?
I wanted to volunteer ‘locally’ near where I live, within walking distance. I had been to an ‘open house’ at the Mansion after it had been renovated with my young daughter and we were incredibly impressed with what we saw and learnt about its rich and fascinating history!
What do you enjoy most about your time at Valentines Mansion?
I enjoy welcoming the visitors to Valentines Mansion, who are not only captivated by its interesting history, but also impressed by the renovation and restoration works. So many of the visitors reminisce and share their wonderful childhood memories of many of the artefacts in the scullery which their grandparents used! Listening to these priceless stories, I feel, is what makes the Mansion come ‘alive’ and it’s a joy to meet so many enthusiastic people who also value our local history.
I also thoroughly enjoy working with the other volunteers at the Mansion from whom I continue to learn a lot. I have also much appreciated the warm welcome, induction and support from the staff as well as from members of the Friends of Valentines Mansion.
Have you had any memorable moments so far?
Yes! Most notably I was honoured to have a chance meeting at the Mansion with local historian, Georgina Green who has done an incredible amount of research and written books on Valentines Mansion and many of its past residents, some of whom had trading links with Asia , the Far East and the Americas, and its relevance to today.
Another memorable moment springs to mind – on my very first day of volunteering at the Mansion, a childminder with three very young children aged approximately 3 visited the building. As we walked up the grand staircase and I pointed out the very large and colourful stained-glass window. One of the young children stood, spell bound and gazing at it in amazement and letting out, ‘Wow!…..’it’s like a rainbow.’ This response from such a young child was an awe and wonder moment for me. Valentines Mansion seems to capture visitors of ALL ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities.
Are you interested in becoming a Valentines Mansion volunteer? If so, get in touch by emailing hiringvalentines@visionrcl.org.uk or call us on 020 8708 8100.
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