Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Why not volunteer with the Rectory Lane Cemetery Project?  If you join us you can expect:

• A warm welcome to a friendly and enthusiastic group – new friends
• The opportunity to contribute to a project in your community – to give back
• A role that suits your skills, interests and availability – and the support to do it well
• The potential to learn new skills – a sense of achievement
• A lot of appreciation of what you uniquely bring – and thanks!

We would expect from you:

• An interest in the project and willingness to learn so you can carry out your role well
• Friendliness and respect for other volunteers and cemetery visitors
• To be a positive project ambassador with the public
• Adherence to our policies which are designed to safeguard you as well as the project
• Being able to rely on you!

What do volunteers do?

Volunteers are absolutely vital to the success of the project, the future of the Cemetery and the delivery of our mission:

To change perceptions of cemeteries as ‘dead spaces’, transforming ours into a vibrant and diverse contemporary garden of commemoration, a pivotal heritage asset and an environmental haven by making connections, promoting health and wellbeing and welcoming all.

How do you get involved?

As an individual: we want to make sure your volunteering experience will be satisfying, starting at the beginning, with a short chat with the Community Engagement Officer, who is responsible for the volunteering programme, to understand your interest, skills and availability.  She will also explain the next steps:

• Completion of a short application form so we can learn something about your interests and the skills you can bring
• A discussion (face-face, telephone or Zoom) about the project and a potential volunteer role – some roles eg. working with vulnerable groups, may require references and a DBS check; others don’t
• A tour around the Cemetery as a general introduction and with a focus on the role under consideration
• On agreement it is right for you and the project, you will receive a copy of our Volunteers Guide and a Volunteer Agreement to sign
• Introduction to that activity’s lead volunteer, induction with relevant training and materials
• If appropriate, a taster session/opportunity to try out the role with support.

As a member of another volunteer group:  You might already belong to a volunteer organisation, who could be happy to contribute time or a particular expertise to this project.  In this case, the process would involve a conversation between the charity’s organiser and the Community Engagement Officer to agree the task and timings.

Look at what we’ve achieved so far