Worsbrough Mill and Country Park has been a popular place for volunteering for several years, with access to beautiful green space, reservoir and an historic mill, the wellbeing impact for many volunteers is huge. We have a commitment to make volunteering as accessible as possible, enabling people across the borough to have the opportunity to be involved. Ben Marsh (Project Development Manager, Volunteering) shares some of the recent volunteer activities at Worsbrough

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Over the years we have forged partnerships with several organisations to help try and achieve this goal. In partnership with Opening Doors, every Friday a group of young people (18-25) who have a range of learning and physical needs – some are ambulant others are wheelchair users, some are verbal others not – get involved in volunteering activities selected and adapted to ensure inclusivity is at the fore wherever possible. The group is facilitated by different support workers and a session leader.

This group have been active since 2019 and continue to contribute to site through creating bird feeders, maintaining flower planters, fundraising through crafts, and creating creative interventions for visitors. Feedback from this group has shown that they enjoy coming to site and consider themselves as active volunteers who are giving back.

‘It’s is a safe environment for the group to work in, visitors to the site are friendly and interested in what we are doing.’ – Support staff

‘I love Worsbrough Mill’ – Student Volunteer

In 2022 Barnsley Museums received Volunteering Futures Funding and we launched a new programme of volunteering called, ‘have a go sessions’ which have provided experiential learning, skills building, real-world engagement, and greenspace interaction for students from Barnsley secondary schools. The project focuses on hands-on experiences and reflection, allowing students to better connect theories and knowledge. The aim is to break down barriers and overcome social isolation, providing students with the opportunity to learn new skills and engage in greenspace learning.

We have been working with several secondary schools, including West Ridings School, Robert Ogden and Springwell Academy, to provide tailor-made interaction with SEND provisions in Barnsley.

‘Working with loads of new people some are old too!’ – Student volunteer

The skills building aspect of the activity includes traditional skills such as using hand saws, making willow binders, shaping hazel steaks, pruning, coppicing, and sustainable land management. Students also develop communication, hand-eye coordination, digging, planting, and stonework skills and have real world engagement. All timber generated on site is used, providing a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to land management.

Feedback from teachers and students has been positive, with students expressing excitement and enthusiasm for the project. The project has been praised for its ability to boost confidence and teach life skills, as well as for its kindness and enthusiasm in teaching.

‘We love the challenges and the activities we do, some of the children in my class never used any of the equipment you have shown them and never experienced the jobs you have given them.

You are not only boosting their confidence but also teaching them life skills that they will use in future. – Teacher

Overall, our ambition for volunteering at Worsbrough Mill and Country Park has seen us work with partners and engage over 100 young people with a range of needs into becoming volunteers, gaining skills and experiences while actively contributing and connecting to a local heritage and green space.

What Next?

With thanks to the National Lottery Hertiage Fund, we continue to make Worsbrough Mill an accessible space for everyone. Over the next two years we will redevelop our engagement and learning space, codesign new interpretation in the mill with our community partners and create new volunteering opportunities focused on milling and mill skills. If you think you would want to be involved message us at museumvolunteering@barnsley.gov.uk There’s also more information on our website

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