Volunteer Role
Tour Guide
To ensure a friendly, welcoming and responsive
reception for all visitors to the National Breeding
Centre and Training Schools.
To provide an informative and consistent tour for all
visitors, delivering Guide Dogs’ key messages and
encouraging interaction from tour groups
Each session last 3 hours. Ideally guides would
come once or twice per fortnight.
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Location: National Breeding Centre or Guide Dogs Training Schools
What does the role involve?
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Welcoming individuals and groups at the centre
Providing health & safety and general site information
Ensuring all Centre visitors are recorded on arrival
Providing a tour of the visitor centre or site in line with training
Operating DVD / TV screens
Liaising with Visitor Centre Coordinator for any requirements, queries or
concerns
Providing information and sponsorship leaflets
Serving refreshments as required
Taking cash and credit card transactions, and presenting the trading
area in a tidy way
What skills or experience are required?
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Good communication skills
A friendly and welcoming attitude
Basic ability to use computers and DVD players desirable
Basic confidence and ability for handling financial transactions
Willingness to learn key messages and tell people about the ‘Guide
Dogs Journey’
What will I get out of it?
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Enabling Guide Dogs to continue its work with blind and partiallysighted people.
Meet people and improve your presentation skills
An opportunity to showcase the National Breeding Centre and Training
Schools
To work as part of a dynamic volunteering team
What support or training will I get?
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Induction training relevant to the role
Regular and ongoing support from Guide Dogs
An opportunity to take part in any general Guide Dogs volunteer
training or events that are available locally
Will I need to do a CRB check? No
This role is managed by: Visitor Centre Coordinator or Community
Fundraising Regional Coordinator
Updated Apr 2012
Find out more – meet one of our existing Tour Guides
I was involved with the transfer from the
old breeding site to the National
Breeding Centre as part of a
consultative group. I was really
impressed with the way the building
developed and wanted to stay
involved after the relocation was
completed; the natural progression was
to become a tour guide for the centre
so I could share my knowledge and
stay in touch with the volunteers and
staff.
I’ve now been involved with the breeding centre for over 20
years, and love to see the journey experienced by the
broods and pups.
I still learn something new every day, and feel part of a
friendly team.
This role allows volunteers to meet many interesting people
dedicated to the work of Guide Dogs. The tours are great for
public awareness, as many people see working guide dogs
but don’t know the journey they take to get there. The tours
are also a great opportunity for fundraising, which is key to
Guide Dogs’ success.
“I’m very proud to show visitors around the Guide
Dogs National Breeding Centre”