Volunteering at Finch Foundry

Visitors on a tour of the forge at Finch Foundry, Devon — A tour of the forge at Finch Foundry, Devon | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Volunteers at Finch help to share the forge and its history with visitors, conserve it for everyone to enjoy, and help raise funds to maintain it for the future. Discover more about volunteering here and the opportunities available.

Volunteer at Finch Foundry

Volunteers help to welcome visitors, run guided tours of the forge, and demonstrate the water-powered hammer mill to bring Dartmoor’s industrial past to life. Volunteers also help to catalogue and conserve the items in the Finch collection, plus raise funds through the sale of second-hand books to ensure it'll be here for future generations to enjoy.

Why join us?

There are lots of reasons to join us; making the move to volunteer could be the best decision you ever make.
• Become part of a friendly and dedicated team
• Meet people from all walks of life and forge new friendships
• Utilise your existing skills and learn new ones
• Strengthen your CV and help to develop your career
• Learn about the history of this special place.

Current opportunities include:

Bookshop Volunteer

We are looking for volunteers interested in looking after our second-hand book offer. There are several ways in which you can help. Sorting and pricing donated books. Topping up the shelves and creating seasonal displays. And possibly opening and closing the bookshop outside the usual opening hours. Please get in touch to find out more.

Tour Guide Volunteer

You will play a key role in bringing Finch Foundry to life for visitors. Our volunteers are inclusive and welcoming and help connect and inspire people. You’ll talk about the changes the building’s been through over time, the people who worked and lived here, and the machinery and methods which helped to make Finch one of the most successful tool mills of the 19th century. Specialist training will be provided to help you demonstrate the water-powered hammer mill.

Please get in touch about opportunities to join the team.

Can’t find the role you’re looking for?

Do you feel you could help us with your time and skills? We’d love to hear from you so please get in touch to see if any suitable roles might be available.

At Finch we run regular blacksmithing days and outings for volunteers, plus there are regular opportunities to meet up with other National Trust volunteers from around Dartmoor.

Get in touch about volunteering at Finch Foundry

We’re looking forward to hearing from you. Please give us a call on 01837 840046 or email finchfoundry@nationaltrust.org.uk. Please note, we cannot accept volunteer applications from under-16s.