For almost 900 years, St Cross has been shaped not simply by its buildings, but by the people who have lived, worked, worshipped, visited and given their time here.
Today, volunteers continue to play an enormously important part in the life of the Hospital – and we’d love to welcome more people into that community.
You might already know St Cross well. Perhaps you regularly walk through the water meadows, have visited the gardens or stopped for tea and cake. Or perhaps you’ve always wondered what lies beyond the gates and are looking for an enjoyable way to discover somewhere new.
Either way, volunteering can be a wonderful way to get to know St Cross from a completely different perspective.
There are all sorts of ways to get involved
We’re currently looking to grow our pool of volunteers, both for particular events and to support life at St Cross more generally.
We don’t expect everyone to arrive with specialist knowledge or commit huge amounts of time. Opportunities will vary, and we hope to find ways for people with different interests, skills and availability to become involved.
If being outdoors is your thing, for example, there may be opportunities to lend a hand in our beautiful gardens – spending time in very special surroundings while helping us care for them.
Events offer another way to dip your toe into volunteering, with everything from welcoming visitors to helping activities run smoothly.
And some of our volunteers are already very familiar faces.
A big thank you to our Tearoom volunteers
Anyone who has enjoyed a warm welcome, good coffee and homemade cake in the Hundred Men’s Hall Tearooms will have experienced volunteering at St Cross first-hand.
Our wonderful team of Tearoom volunteers give their time, energy and enthusiasm to make HMH such a welcoming place for visitors. We’re hugely grateful for everything they do – and they provide a brilliant example of the difference volunteers can make to the experience of St Cross.
It’s about much more than getting jobs done. Volunteers become part of the life and personality of the place.
Fancy giving it a try? Start with Michaelmas
If you’re curious about volunteering but aren’t quite sure where to begin, this year’s Michaelmas Fair on Saturday 26 September is the perfect opportunity to try it.
It’s one of the busiest, liveliest and most enjoyable days in our calendar, when St Cross fills with music, medieval re-enactments, traditional games, artisan stalls, food, drink and visitors.
We’re looking for volunteers to help with traditional family games, welcome visitors at the entrances, assist with parking and general stewarding, and lend a hand with setting up and packing away.
You don’t need to commit to the whole day. If you can spare a few hours before, during or after the Fair, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Volunteers will receive free entry to the Fair and either a breakfast bap to start the day or a voucher for refreshments – as well as the considerable satisfaction of being right in the middle of everything.
Come and see where it leads
Perhaps you’ll volunteer for a few hours at Michaelmas and leave having discovered that you’d like to become more involved. Perhaps gardening appeals. Perhaps another opportunity will emerge that suits you perfectly.
For now, we’re keeping the invitation deliberately broad.
If you have some time to give and would enjoy spending more of it at one of Winchester’s most remarkable historic places, come and have a conversation with us.
There’s no need to know exactly how you’d like to help. Just bring your interest, enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.
To volunteer at the Michaelmas Fair, or to register your interest in future volunteering opportunities at St Cross, please contact Louise, our Deputy Clerk, at office@hopsitalofstcross.co.uk.
We’d love to welcome you into the St Cross community.
