General Farm Assistant

General Farm Assistants work with the Farm Team to ensure high standards of animal welfare, husbandry and presentation. They also play a vital role in the upkeep and cleanliness of the Home Farm. High standards of hygiene are required in all areas to help us comply with our zoonotic disease control measures. While working around the Farm, they engage with our visitors by being friendly, helpful and by answering general questions.

 What’s in it for you?

·      Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team

·      Meeting people from all walks of life and making new friends

·      Keeping active

·      Working with livestock, learning about their care and husbandry

·      Working with the general public

What’s involved?

• The nature of the work will vary depending on the time of year. Two days at Home Farm are rarely the same! You’ll be assisting the staff and fellow volunteers in the day to day running of both the farm and visitor attraction.

• As an open farm, a lot of what we do is focused on keeping our visitors safe from zoonotic diseases (such as e-coli, campylobacter and salmonella). The most common way that these can be caught is through contact with animal muck. For this reason, it is vital that all areas open to visitors are kept as clean as possible. Farm Assistants are key to helping us keep public yards swept and disinfected, fences and surfaces scrubbed and washed.

• The Farm day starts at 8.00am and finishes 3.00pm (or later in summer). We open to visitors at 10.30am every day, all year, so the focus of the work before 10.30 is to get the Farm ready and cleaned for opening.

• Once we open, Farm Assistants continue with the day-to-day jobs of feeding and cleaning out: but with an emphasis on engaging with visitors as they work. Stopping and chatting to the public is very much encouraged!

• There are always lots of odd jobs to do around the Farm. Farm Assistants help with minor maintenance work, such as painting and fencing; also grounds keeping jobs like weeding and nettle-pulling.  

• You may also get involved with visitor events such as pig feeding.

• We are a working farm, primarily concerned with rearing rare breed livestock for meat. We present ourselves as such and try to steer away from the conventional “petting farm” image of other farm parks. For this reason, you’ll have a professional and realistic attitude to dealing with our animals. You’ll be expected to work to our high, RSPCA‑approved welfare standards, and report any signs of injury or illness to the livestock managers or a senior member of staff.

·      You’ll be providing an extra pair of eyes in terms of managing the Farm and its visitors by being aware of possible danger areas. You’ll be able to give advice regarding any damaging behaviour or out of bounds straying and reporting any damage.

·      You’ll become familiar with, and then follow, the National Trust’s Health and Safety Policy, at all times. After induction training, you’ll be conversant with and capable of implementing emergency fire, evacuation and accident procedures.

·      You will comply with all Health and Safety and Farm procedures, following instructions from Farm staff at all times.

·      You will wear practical and presentable outdoor clothing, along with any National Trust uniform provided and strong boots (steel toe cap if possible). Additional PPE must be worn for certain tasks, as advised by the Farm Team.

·      In your time with us, you’ll acquire the necessary knowledge of the Farm, its contents, Wimpole Estate and the work of National Trust.

·      You’ll give any other appropriate assistance around the Estate, as may be reasonably requested.

This role will suit people who… have an interest in livestock and farming, and like explaining things to our visitors. Are keen to keep active and enjoy getting stuck into farm work.