Volunteers play an important part in the life of Norwich Cathedral – from welcoming visitors to helping with school visits and family days, giving tours, working on historic textiles and supporting the Cathedral’s library and shop.
This Volunteers’ Week the Cathedral would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donates their time to support the Cathedral and also encourage others to join the Cathedral’s volunteer community.
The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, said: “Our wonderful volunteers do an amazing job and are incredibly generous in sharing their time and skills to support the Cathedral.
“About 500 volunteers are part of the Cathedral community and we are so grateful for all that they do.
“If you would like to become a Cathedral volunteer, we would love to hear from you.”
In particular, the Cathedral currently has volunteer opportunities available for welcomers and for schools and family learning volunteers.
Clive Sexton and Parami Ratnayake are both part of the team of volunteer welcomers who greet visitors at the Cathedral’s Hostry entrance and help ensure that people have all the information they need to enjoy their visits.
Clive, a 65-year-old retired accountant from the Golden Triangle area of Norwich, has been a welcomer for three years. He said he loved being part of the Cathedral community and meeting such a diverse range of people.
“A friendly welcome and appropriate words can make a huge difference to someone’s visit. I feel very privileged to be standing where visitors have been greeted for over 900 years!” he said.
“No two shifts are the same, I never know who I might meet, and I have had so many great conversations!”
Parami, 43, who lives in Norwich and became a welcomer in October 2024, said: “The Cathedral is a place of beauty, reflection, and community, and I find great fulfilment in providing guests with a warm and informative experience.”
She added: “It’s an incredible experience being a welcomer at Norwich Cathedral. It’s an opportunity to develop new skills, build up meaningful connections and be part of something bigger than oneself. Plus, the sense of fulfilment that comes from giving back is truly rewarding.”
The volunteers who work with the schools and family learning team help inspire the thousands of young people who come on a school visit each year or take part in the Cathedral’s family activity days during the school holidays.
Margaret Gray, 65 and from Taverham, became a schools and family learning volunteer after she retired from teaching, and she said it was a great way for her to continue using her skills.
“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. In the school holidays, I help with family days when the Cathedral has lots of craft activities and workshops for children. It’s lovely just to witness that sense of awe and wonder that children have when they come into this beautiful building for the first time.”
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.
“I enjoyed it so much I asked to stay on as a regular volunteer! I love working with children in general, but especially seeing how excited and engaged they are with learning outside of the classroom.”
When asked what she enjoyed most about volunteering with the schools and family learning team, she said: “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.”
To find out more about applying to be a welcomer or a schools and family learning volunteer, visit the volunteer page on the Cathedral website: www.cathedral.org.uk/get-involved
Welcomers are asked to cover one shift of 2 or 2.5 hours per week and no previous experience is necessary.
Previous experience of teaching or working with children and young people is preferable for schools and family learning volunteer applicants, and drama, story-telling and art and craft skills are especially useful. Volunteers are asked to offer one day a week but this can be flexible.
All volunteers will be given training for their roles.
For further information email volunteersadministrator@cathedral.org.uk
Photos credit: Norwich Cathedral/Bill Smith
