VOLUNTEERS
Internship available: Projects Intern
To support the Projects Team
3 months, volunteer position with paid expenses
The Prince's Regeneration Trust works throughout the UK on projects which enable under-used or redundant historic buildings to perform a new function, unlocking a regeneration of the wider community.
We are looking for an Intern to support the Projects Director and Projects Team in their day to day activities. As part of the Internship they will help to arrange meetings and project visits, assist with the production of papers and reports, support the Projects Director by managing his time and travel, draft correspondence and be the first point of contact for incoming enquiries. They will also work with the Projects Coordinator to update, maintain and run reports on the project management software.
In return, we will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to gain experience of working in the heritage field, learn about regeneration projects and get a first-hand insight into the project management process. Through helping to coordinate the activities of the Project Team and attending project events and meetings, the Internship offers a chance to develop communication and organisational abilities while gaining an understanding of our project work.
The ideal candidate will be a well organised person with good administrative skills and aptitudes. They will have good communication skills, and should have the confidence to work independently but also the ability to work as part of a small team. They will be proactive, resourceful, and computer literate. Knowledge of regeneration and heritage is not essential but a demonstrated interest would be an advantage.
Further information
We are seeking a commitment of around 3 months. Ideally we would like someone 5 days/week, but we are happy to consider applications from people who are willing to do 3-4 days/ week. It is a voluntary (unpaid) position, with lunch and travel costs provided (to be agreed).
This role would be based in our office (90-92 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 7NT). However, there may be an opportunity to get involved in the organisation of events that could take place anywhere in the UK, so the applicant should be happy to travel.
Please send your CV and a covering letter, explaining why you are interested in this position, to Sophie.LO@princescharities-cs.org.
Closing Date: 2nd February 2010.
We are extremely grateful to all our volunteers. Their time, skills, and commitment have been invaluable to us and we would like to say a huge thank you to all of them for the contribution they have made to the work of the Trust.
Find out more about our volunteers and how they have helped us:
Farnaz Faraji
"I believe that working for The Princes Regeneration Trust was a good opportunity for me to work with expert people, build long term relationships, and review my own abilities"
Biography
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Background: I have an MSc in Spatial Planning. My chosen career has been in planning and architectural design, and during the last five years I have run several international projects in various urban design companies in the U.K. My academic and work experience has mainly focused on developing sustainable communities, place making, collaborative planning, and community-led regeneration. At present, I am setting up an international company to practice poverty alleviation and affordable housing based on community-focused regeneration in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Experience of Volunteering: I joined the Prince’s Regeneration Trust in November 2008 to experience heritage-led regeneration. During my time there, I contributed to various projects, as well as brushing up on my design and project management skills. The type and size of the projects that I was involved in were very varied; from producing the design and access statement for an exemplar vernacular building in Caithness, to contributing various design suggestions on retrofitting listed buildings and improving their environmental sustainability. I even helped produce the final master plan document for a unique hospital site in Gosport.
I believe that working for The Prince’s Regeneration Trust was a good opportunity for me to work with expert people, build long term relationships, and review my own abilities.
Jemimah Graff
"One of the most enjoyable aspects of the role has been seeing the different locations that the Trust work in"
Biography
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Background: I graduated in 2008 from studying Interior Architecture and Design at London Metropolitan University. My love of the built environment was what drew me to volunteering at the Prince’s Regeneration Trust and in particular how they reuse heritage buildings in a way which makes them relevant to modern living.
Experience of volunteering: I volunteer as a photographer for the Trust, taking photos of the current and potential projects. I’ve been working closely with the marketing team to put together a set of postcards for distribution around Christmas. It’s taught me a great deal about the intricacies involved in developing photographs suitable for publishing and how to work to a defined brief.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the role has been seeing the different locations that the Trust work in and how the proposed changes to a heritage site would, or has positively affected the local community.
Nicholas Baxter
"The insight I gained into the work of the Trust was valuable enough, but I was also shown a view from another angle of the heritage development process"
Biography
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Background: After over ten years working in print journalism, I decided to follow my passion, switch career and work with historic buildings. I took an MSc in European Urban Conservation at the University of Dundee, after which I needed to do work experience to build up contacts and gain experience of the sector.
Experience of Volunteering: I worked for six weeks at the Prince’s Regeneration Trust. My work at the Trust was extremely varied and included researching and writing a detailed history of a mediaeval gatehouse, scouring archives for information about a palace in Cornwall, creating the training and education plan for a small domestic project in Scotland, including sourcing local training providers and a free website, and using InDesign to interpret a number of sketches as fair-copy PDFs for the conversion of an Irish prison.
As a result, I made friends whom I still see and contacts with whom I hope I shall work again in the future. The insight I gained into the work of the Trust was valuable enough, but I was also shown a view from another angle of the heritage development process.
Jennifer Grindley
"I gained valuable experience which has given me the confidence to apply for roles in the communications and marketing industry upon my graduation next summer"
Biography
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Background: I am currently in my final year at King’s College London studying for a BA in English Literature and Language. Over the summer I decided to volunteer at the Prince’s Regeneration Trust to gain experience in communications within the charity sector.
Experience of volunteering: I had a great time volunteering at the Trust; everyone was very welcoming and gave me the opportunity to work on exciting projects. I volunteered for two days per week and spent the rest of my time at another internship. During my time at the Trust I was involved in publication research, designing sustainability posters and general administration. I was also involved in the editing of a new publication for the charity which was particularly rewarding.
How has volunteering at the Prince’s Regeneration Trust helped you?
Volunteering at the Trust gave me a fascinating insight into the workings of a national charity. I gained valuable experience which has given me the confidence to apply for roles in the communications and marketing industry upon my graduation next summer.
Georg Graeser
"My work is highly appreciated and if there was a lonely planet guide for volunteering I would recommend this place!"
Biography
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Background: I graduated from studying media science, art history and German literature in early 2009. After an interim period with paramedic training I went to London and applied for volunteering opportunities in the charity sector. The Prince’s Regeneration Trust was actually my favourite choice (even though they picked me...) as the field of regeneration meets my general interest in cultural heritage and ties in with my conservation classes at university.
Experience of volunteering: The Prince’s Regeneration Trust is a small charity with a personal and warm atmosphere. So far I’ve been volunteering for over two months, and during my time I’ve been lucky enough to work on an exciting publication on sustainable disposal of heritage assets.
I collect and analyse data on UK’s buildings at risk registers, do research on suitable case studies for the publication, communicate with stakeholders to find out more about the buildings’ purchases, develop a prototypic social return on investment toolkit to measure impact and do other smaller tasks on a day to day basis (like online research on donors, picture research, editing photos and summarising publications). My work is highly appreciated and if there was a lonely planet guide for volunteering I would recommend this place!
Kiera Newmark
"I felt that by volunteering with a charity I would be given the opportunity to do more than just standard work experience jobs, and that I would be using my free time to help a great cause"
Biography
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Background: I recently graduated from studying Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge University. I decided to volunteer at the Prince’s Regeneration Trust to improve my skills, and to add some more experience to my C.V. I felt that by volunteering with a charity I would be given the opportunity to do more than just standard ‘work experience’ jobs, and that I would be using my free time to help a great cause.
Experience of volunteering: I am really enjoying my time at the Prince’s Regeneration Trust! I’ve been here for a couple of months now. I volunteer one day a week, and spend my other four days working in another internship. During my time here I have helped organise a conference in Wales, where the delegates had the opportunity to learn about how they could resurrect their redundant rural buildings. I have also put together publicity material, researched potential donors, and done lots of administration! I like the fact that no two days I work here are the same, so I got lots of experience to write on my C.V.
