Heritage Volunteer

Ouseburn Farm is a charity and working community farm in the urban heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. Our story started in 1976 when parents from Byker took over a plot of land on the site where the Farm is now. They wanted their children to have access to nature, to grow their own food and take care of animals.

We are now a registered charity and remain true to our origins, giving over 40,000 visitors a year the opportunity to learn about the origins of food and care for nature through engagement with farm life.

We are also a care farm and our placement programme for Autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities and difficulties is central to our work.

We help our placements to learn new skills and connect with nature, each other and their community through meaningful activity in our farmyard, gardens, kitchen, café and visitor centre.

All activities are inspired by and, indeed, take place in and around our working farmyard, gardens, on site café (run by Smile for Life Children’s Charity) and popular visitor centre.

In 2026 our farm turns 50!

As a Heritage Volunteer, you will play a role in collecting and collating visitor’s stories from over the last 50 years as well as taking a key role in 50th birthday celebratory events planning and delivery.

Roles and responsibilities may look different dependent on your skills and interests and will be agreed during your application and induction.

Roles and responsibilities could include:

• Speaking to visitors on site, collecting stories, photos and video footage
• Creating a portfolio of stories from people connected to our farm over the last 50 years
• Supporting with the planning and/or delivering of celebratory events such as photography exhibitions and farm heritage tours

Flexible on days/times. 2-4 hours per week.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and enthusiasm
• Caring, reliable and positive nature
• Reliability and flexibility to volunteer on a range of tasks
• Willing to commit to this role for at least 6 months for a minimum of 2 hours per week
• Some knowledge of the local area and its history (desirable but not essential)
• Experience of working or volunteering in/studying heritage based subject (desirable but not essential) ● Experience in working or volunteering in a community setting (desirable but not essential)