Volunteer With Us

Suffolk’s historic buildings, landscapes and communities make our county a very special place – and we need enthusiastic people to help us spread the word about the work of the Suffolk Preservation Society.

Our Volunteer Ambassadors represent SPS at local shows, conferences, heritage events and community gatherings across the county. They help us meet new people, raise awareness of our work, build relationships and encourage more people to become involved with the Society.  If you have professional experience, strong local knowledge or simply an enthusiasm for Suffolk’s heritage and enjoy talking to people, we’d love to hear from you.

Who are we looking for?

Most importantly, we are looking for people who share our enthusiasm for Suffolk. Professional expertise isn’t essential and we welcome people with strong local or community connections, experience of the heritage sector, or simply the confidence to represent SPS and talk about our work. However, if you have professional experience in areas such as architecture, planning, historic buildings, surveying, heritage conservation, property, construction, traditional crafts and other related professional disciplines, we would be delighted to hear from you.

What will you be doing?

As a Volunteer Ambassador, you’ll usually join another volunteer or member of the SPS team to represent the Society at events across Suffolk.  You might find yourself at the Suffolk Show, a local country show, a Heritage Open Day, a heritage skills event, college open day or professional conference.

You could be:

• Welcoming visitors to the SPS stand and starting conversations
• Talking about the work of Suffolk Preservation Society
• Encouraging people to join and support the Society
• Promoting our events, activities and projects
• Meeting other professionals, organisations and community groups
• Helping us make useful new connections across the county

You won’t be expected to provide professional planning or conservation advice. Your role is simply to be a friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic ambassador.

Interested in joining us?

We’re building a new network of SPS Volunteer Ambassadors and would love to hear from you.  Whether you can help at one event a year or several, your time and experience can make a real difference.

If you care about Suffolk’s heritage, enjoy meeting people and would like to play a more active role in supporting our work, become an SPS Volunteer Ambassador.  Get in touch with the SPS team (sps@suffolksociety.org) to find out more or register your interest.

How much time do I need to give?

As much or as little as you would like.

There is no regular weekly or monthly commitment. We’ll let our Volunteer Ambassadors know about upcoming events and you can simply choose the ones that interest you and fit your availability. This makes the programme particularly suitable for busy professionals, retired or semi-retired professionals, or anyone who would like to become more involved with Suffolk’s heritage without taking on a regular volunteering commitment.

We’ll make sure you’re well prepared

Before attending your first event, you’ll receive a short introduction to SPS, our work and the key messages we’d like our Ambassadors to share. At events, we’ll provide the materials you need, including information about the Society, membership, forthcoming events and current projects.

The aim is simple: we want you to feel informed, supported and confident representing SPS.

What’s in it for you?

Becoming a Volunteer Ambassador is a great opportunity to put your knowledge and experience to good use while supporting Suffolk’s historic environment.  It’s also a chance to meet interesting people, develop new professional and community connections, attend events across the county and become more closely involved in the work of Suffolk Preservation Society.  Most importantly, you’ll be helping us reach new audiences and build a stronger community of people who care about protecting Suffolk’s heritage for future generations.