Volunteering Call At Oystermouth Castle

Volunteers are wanted to help bring historic Oystermouth Castle back to life this summer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council is calling for people who’d like to get involved in their local community and have an interest in history, archaeology or education to get in touch. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Volunteers at the ancient landmark could be responsible for welcoming visitors and sharing information, helping with the organisation of events, developing educational programmes or furthering knowledge of the castle through research. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Benefits of being a volunteer include free access to the castle, regular opportunities to attend social events and the chance to access a wide range of on-going support and training. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Volunteers would form part of the Friends of Oystermouth Castle – a voluntary group set up in 1989 that looks after the day-to-day running of the landmark. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “Anyone can join as a Friend and volunteer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re newly retired, a student looking for work experience or someone who has a few hours to spare – there are many new opportunities to get involved in at Oystermouth Castle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“And whatever role you choose, you don’t need previous experience and will receive full support and training. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Becoming a volunteer is good fun. You get the chance to meet visitors from all around the world and the opportunity to learn all about Oystermouth Castle’s fascinating history.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Diana Burgess and Susan Metcalfe, two volunteers at the castle, are urging others to follow suit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Diana said: “Even when you’re breathless at the castle entrance, a new visitor arrives and asks a simple question that you can answer, then you realise how great it is to be at Oystermouth. We really get to meet some lovely people – the time seems to fly, especially when you’re busy. It’s good fun.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Susan said: “I’m so glad I have joined the Friends because it’s given me the opportunity to make new acquaintances after many years away from Gower. I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the season as I’m sure there’ll never be a dull moment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​