We are seeking a volunteer to help develop contacts with the people of Guildford and the area, and organisations and bodies interested in charities such as ours; to publicise activities and news relating to the Hospital through a newsletter and social media; to keep social media up to date; and to facilitate events in the Hospital involving the public. This role is initially for a volunteer but could develop over time. The volunteer would work closely with the Master and Governors.
Hours: Part-time, flexible
Location: Abbot’s Hospital, central Guildford with flexible remote working, by agreement,
Reporting to: The Master, Abbot’s Hospital
Remuneration: This is a voluntary unpaid role. A paid post may become available in the future as our fundraising capacity grows.
About Abbot’s Hospital:
Founded in 1619 by George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, Abbot’s Hospital has provided sheltered housing for older people of limited means in Guildford without interruption for over four centuries. It is a Grade I listed building: a Tudor masterpiece at the top of Guildford’s historic High Street often compared to a miniature Hampton Court Palace or an Oxford College quad, and arguably the most significant historic building in the borough.
Today, residents live in apartments surrounding two courtyards within buildings that also house a Chapel, a Common Hall, and a function hall. The Hospital also owns Old Cloth Hall on North Street. Income from residents funds day-to-day operations, but maintaining this extraordinary building requires additional resources — and that is where this role comes in.
The Opportunity
We are not yet running a major fundraising campaign. But we know that great fundraising is built on relationships, reputation, and reach and that is precisely what this role will help us create.
We are looking for someone to help us tell Abbot’s Hospital’s story, engage supporters old and new, and lay the groundwork so that when the moment comes, we are ready. This is a role for someone who wants to make a meaningful contribution to Guildford’s civic and heritage life and to help open doors for the Hospital.
The Role
Working with the Master, Governors, and staff, the role will lead on the following areas:
Events and engagement
• Organise small-scale events to engage existing supporters and attract new ones — for example, school chamber music concerts, historical talks, and guided tours
• Work with the Master and Governors to develop the events programme over time
Relationships & network
• Begin building relationships across Guildford, with local businesses, civic organisations, schools, trusts, and individuals with an interest in heritage or community
• Represent Abbot’s Hospital warmly and credibly in the community
• Supporter cultivation and stewardship
• Develop and maintain a database of contacts, logging visitors, event attendees, and supporters
• Ensure donations are acknowledged promptly and Gift Aid claims are made
• Send occasional newsletters to keep supporters informed and engaged
Profile
• Develop and maintain a social media presence for Abbot’s Hospital
• Ensure all activity reflects the Hospital’s values and operates within the fundraising code of practice, applicable guidelines, and data protection obligations
The Person
We are looking for a self-starting, warm, and energetic individual. Some background in engagement, marketing, or fundraising is helpful, but genuine enthusiasm and drive matter more than a particular CV.
The successful candidate will be:
• Someone who knows Guildford, or is keen to and can use their own network to open doors and build profile for the Hospital
• A natural communicator: enthusiastic, credible, and comfortable talking to a wide range of people
• Well-organised and self-starting, able to manage projects independently while working cooperatively with Governors, the Master, and staff
• Comfortable with social media and standard office software (Word, Excel), and willing to learn a contact database system and in keeping with data protection policies.
• Committed to promoting a four-hundred-year-old institution with a very modern purpose
Interested? We would love to hear from you.
We are very happy to have an informal conversation before any formal expression of interest. Please get in touch with the Master at Abbot’s Hospital to find out more or to discuss the role.
Contact: Ian Bowler, the Master, at master@abbotshospital.org
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