The volunteer

Oliver Goulding is one of our dedicated volunteers, making everything better across all sorts of teams from the Eden Sessions to our online shop. Read about his favourite moments with us.

"I decided to volunteer at Eden because I thought it would be a good way to experience work and I had enjoyed visiting for many years.

I do everything from helping behind the scenes of our online shop – arranging the orders or shredding paper to make recycled packaging for the parcels that get sent out – to putting up displays in our gift shop, to interacting with visitors, inviting them to complete a questionnaire on their visitor experience.

I like to feel useful and particularly love chatting to the public. I feel proud to be a part of the Eden team – I love it when we all get together for meals.

I also love working at our Eden Sessions gigs. On those days I help out on the Access desk, checking people in and then go on to the disabled platform to assist people there.

My standout moment at Eden so far is the Nile Rodgers & Chic Session – seeing everyone enjoying themselves on the Accessible Viewing Platform and to feel part of it with them. Lots of people knew the words and, even though I can't get up and dance, I moved around a lot to the music in my wheelchair. The atmosphere was buzzing."