Volunteer

Volunteer

We rely totally on volunteers for all our activities, from opening the windmill to visitors, organising festivals and events, supporting our schools education programme to baking, fundraising, publicity and gardening.

You could find yourself doing anything from approaching potential sponsors or taking photos of events to helping out at a stall or serving refreshments.

We also need people to lead guided tours of the windmill and volunteers to mill flour.

We offer induction sessions for all volunteers, as well as training and support for guides and millers.

Click here to read the stories of some current volunteers.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please complete the Volunteer application.

If you’re under 18 and interested in volunteering with us, please complete this form and send it to us at info@brixtonwindmill.org

millers at the Brixton Windmill

How much time is required?

Volunteering doesn’t mean giving up all your spare time! Even if you can spare only a couple of hours now and then, we’d be delighted to receive your help.

Brixton Windmill is open for guided tours and special events on certain weekends from Easter to October each year. Once you’re on our volunteer list we will usually email you a schedule of dates, where you can sign up for the times and roles that suit you. So if you want to help with selling merchandise or serving teas for a couple of hours, that’s fine.

If you want to volunteer as a guide or a miller we ask for a bit more commitment, as we will spend some time providing training and support. 

If you are a guide we will ask you to sign up for a minimum of 4 to 6 afternoons each season.

Milling takes place every two weeks throughout the year, so millers will also sign up to an agreed rota – ideally half a day a month.

Become a guide to Brixton Windmill

Image: Jeff Thomas

If you would like to learn new skills and strengthen your CV, or use your existing skills in an interesting role that benefits the local community, why not train as a guide to Brixton Windmill? Become part of the team who help to bring the windmill to life for visitors, providing a friendly and informed welcome.

In return, you will have a unique opportunity to meet new people and improve your communication and public speaking skills, as well as your local and historical knowledge.

The windmill is open to the public from April to October, usually on the second weekend of the month plus some other special events. Whenever you are available you will sign up to an agreed rota with other volunteers. We will provide training and support.

So if you like chatting to people and want to make a difference to conserving Brixton’s heritage, we would love to hear from you. Please complete the Volunteer application.

Become a miller at Brixton Windmill

Miller volunteers We are now regularly milling flour at Brixton Windmill using the historic modular mill, which was originally powered by steam.

Our wholemeal stoneground flour, produced from organic wheat, is a popular item with visitors and local shops and provides important income that helps to ensure the long-term future of the windmill.

Why not volunteer to be a miller or help us with the promotion and sales of our flour? We will fully train you and in return we hope you will agree to volunteer for at least one half-day shift every month.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please complete the Volunteer application.

Other volunteers at Brixton Windmill

If you can’t afford the time to train as a guide or miller but would still like to help out on our open days and other activities, there are lots of ways you can get involved.

Here are some examples of volunteer roles that you might be interested in:

  • Baking: Our home-made cakes are very popular with visitors on open days and provide extra income to support our activities. We refund the cost of ingredients.
  • Community Club: Helping with our Thursday morning community club which we run for local residents aged 55+.
  • Cafe: Our pop up cafe opens every week and relies on volunteers to run. We are always looking for help with serving hot drinks, ice creams etc.
  • Events: Helping organise our festivals and events requires all hands on deck, from hiring musical acts to finding hay bales!
  • Gardening: We run a gardening workshop in Windmill Gardens on the first Saturday of every month to make the park attractive to wildlife and visitors.
  • Publicity and fundraising: If you’re superb with social media or fabulous at fundraising, get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!

In addition, we’re always looking for people to help set up and take down stalls, sell merchandise, serve refreshments, direct visitors and sign them in.

No experience required – just a smile and a willing attitude!

If you’re interested in any of these roles, please email volunteers@brixtonwindmill.org.uk.

Windmill Activity Pack
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Volunteer - Sheila

Sheila Hearsum – Volunteer

“I get a feeling of satisfaction that I have helped do my bit, and I enjoy the teamwork of milling.”

Sheila Hearsum - volunteer

Brixton Windmill & Education Centre
2017-03-13T11:54:16+00:00

Sheila Hearsum - volunteer

Volunteer - Sheila
“I get a feeling of satisfaction that I have helped do my bit, and I enjoy the teamwork of milling.”
Volunteer - Annick

Annick Alet

As well as meeting loads of people and feeling useful to my community, I have improved myself by taking advantage...

Annick Alet - volunteer

Brixton Windmill & Education Centre
2020-01-16T16:21:19+00:00

Annick Alet - volunteer

Volunteer - Annick
As well as meeting loads of people and feeling useful to my community, I have improved myself by taking advantage of training opportunities offered by FoWG.
Sarah Bracken - volunteer

Sarah Bracken

I’m enjoying meeting people and helping out while visitors find out about the history of the site.  It’s a little...

Sarah Bracken - volunteer

Brixton Windmill & Education Centre
2020-01-16T16:24:49+00:00

Sarah Bracken - volunteer

Sarah Bracken - volunteer
I’m enjoying meeting people and helping out while visitors find out about the history of the site.  It’s a little gem and should be known about!
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Brixton Windmill & Education Centre