Volunteering

There are many opportunities to volunteer at Manchester Cathedral to make the building welcoming, attractive for visitors and support the music-making and ministry.

We have a variety of volunteering opportunities including flower arranging, welcoming, guiding, being a steward, cleaning and being a member of the voluntary choir.

Welcomers

As a Cathedral Welcomer you are the first person to meet and greet our visitors and are the point of reference for information and help.

You would usually give three hours of your time, morning or afternoon, weekly or fortnightly to staff our Welcome Desk, answering enquiries, pointing visitors to information about the building or about future events, directing them to exhibitions or to our Visitor Centre, showing them where they can light a candle or where they can sit to reflect quietly.

Our aim is to have at least three Welcomers available whenever the cathedral is open and you would also be on duty with one or more Guides and a Chaplain.

Training and support is provided by the Volunteer Coordinator and the Vergers.

Guides

Help us to reveal the history of Manchester and its Cathedral by becoming a welcome or tour guide. The Cathedral is a beautiful medieval building rich in history. The role of a guide is to open people’s eyes to all of this. There’s also Chetham’s School of Music, the world famous Chetham’s Library and the 15^th century Hanging Bridge, one of the oldest structures in Manchester, which are so often unexplored. Become part of our guiding team and help introduce our visitors to all the stories these have to tell.

You will generally be on duty for 2–3 hours, morning or afternoon, on a weekly or fortnightly basis alongside our Welcomers and Chaplain.

Why Volunteer?

Meeting new people, talking with people from different cultures and introducing Manchester people who’ve never been before- these are just some of the reasons why our volunteers enjoy being a part of the Cathedral team. All our volunteers are highly valued by our visitors, clergy and Cathedral staff- it just wouldn’t be such a thriving, friendly community without them. Volunteering here with us you can meet new friends, gain real work experience and if you’re looking for work we can support you through our volunteer programme.

The Volunteer Programme

The Cathedral wants to attract people from all backgrounds to come and volunteer, that includes people who are currently out of work but are looking for a route back in. We have roles in caretaking, welcoming, admin, hospitality, flower arranging and education.

You will be mentored by existing volunteers and City Centre employers to develop your knowledge and be supported with a 10 week training programme delivered by Manchester College to increase your skills.

This is not a standard volunteer programme. When you’re ready we want to move you on. After the 10 weeks you should have well developed customer service skills, proven reliability and you’ll get a reference from the Cathedral. Our partners have agreed to give real job interviews to people who have gone through the programme and who are job ready. Full feedback will be given to any unsuccessful applicants so we can continue to work with you to improve your future chances of success. For more information please contact Lauren Bailey-Rhodes on 0161 833 2220 (ext 237).

To Apply

If you enjoy meeting people and would like join our volunteering team please download a copy of the welcomers/guides job description, complete the application form and return it to:

Lauren.bailey-rhodes@manchestercathedral.org

or
The Volunteer Programme Manager
Manchester Cathedral
Victoria Street
Manchester M3 1SX

If you would like to receive an application form through the post please contact: 0161 833 2220

School visits

Are you (or someone you know) looking for an opportunity to work with school children? The Education Department welcomes over 4000 school children ach year for a variety of educational trails and craft workshops. We are hoping to recruit volunteers to support the activities that we offer schools. If you have experience of working with children, preferably in a schools context, and would be able to give a couple of hours on a flexible basis, please get in touch with the Education Officer.