Volunteering with the Friends

Because of the latest lockdown, all volunteering is cancelled until the end of February. You can join the waiting list for future dates, but please be aware that we may have to cancel those.

Please read all the way to the bottom of the page before booking.

On Tuesdays and Sundays we normally work in the Cemetery Park. Thursdays depend on who's attending - please tell us by emailing us if you'd rather work outside the Cemetery Park. On Fridays we always work outside of the historic burial grounds.

Fridays: If you'd like to volunteer with the Friends but aren't keen on being near graves, this is the day for you! We will work on land that we look after but that isn't part of the historic cemetery, for example Fairfoot Road woodland, Ackroyd Drive meadows, and Scrapyard Meadow. The meeting point is the Soanes Centre, as that is where the tools and wheelbarrows are, but if you'd prefer to meet us elsewhere please tell us.

Dates book up quickly, but it's worth joining the waiting list as people do cancel.

Volunteering is still allowed during lockdown, provided we take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of transmission. Our volunteering is well-controlled: tools are cleaned, we have a big supply of hand sanitiser, soap, and cleaning products, and we have plenty of space for people to keep their distance.

We can’t run drop-in sessions, and won’t provide water, drinks and snacks. Bring your own - consider a thermos flask in cold weather!

Before you decide to book

1. Do not attend sessions if you or a member of your household/support bubble have COVID-19 symptoms. If you develop or display symptoms on the day, you will be asked to leave. Please check your symptoms and whether it’s suitable for you to volunteer.
2. Follow government guidance on travelling to the Cemetery Park. Avoid using public transport.
3. If you travel by bike, we can’t offer indoor storage. You can lock up your bike outside but within the Soanes Centre railings.

What to bring

1. Wear sturdy shoes, trousers (no shorts!), and ideally long sleeves. Dress for the weather. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. We have lots of stinging nettles and brambles!
2. Bring your own food and drinks (we'd recommend lunch and a thermos flask). Make sure it’s enough to last you for the duration - there will be no access to drinking water, and we won’t provide tea, coffee or snacks.
3. Bring your own gardening/work gloves, hand sanitiser and a face mask if you have them.
4. You will only be permitted into the Soanes Centre or Lodge to use the toilet. There will be no facility to leave your belongings. Please do not bring anything you aren’t willing to carry with you.

On the day

1. Please arrive on time and go to the meeting area: in front of the tool shed, the Soanes Centre, E3 4PX.
2. You will be asked to wash your hands before you start volunteering and at regular intervals throughout the day.
3. Maintain two metres distance between other volunteers, general park visitors and our staff at all times. Please be respectful of others. The risk you are willing to accept is not the same as what others are willing to accept!
4. We will design activities to minimise the need for volunteers to be close to each other and share tools. We will provide resources to clean tools if they need to be shared.
5. The Friends will collect contact information on attendees and they will be provided to national or local government Test and Trace services on request. Apart from Test and Trace, we will treat your data in accordance with our data protection policies.
6. You will be given instructions on the activities that you will be carrying out, general Health & Safety measures and COVID-19 specific controls. If you do not follow these instructions, you will be asked to leave.
7. While the Friends have put in place measures to reduce risks, all social and physical interactions carry a risk of COVID-19 infection. If you or a member of your household/support bubble have underlying medical conditions or concerns relating to becoming infected, please carefully consider whether you want to attend this event.

Click here for more information and to view our full COVID-19 policy and data protection policy.