Contribute to the conservation of our national heritage in the Sussex countryside, England

Details

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  Description

  We own and run an historic house near East Grinstead, in Sussex, in southern England.
  
  The architect of the house also built parts of the U.S. Capitol and the White House in Washington D.C. In the 1970s, it was bought by Led Zeppelin, but by the time our family bought the house in 1982, it was almost a ruin, and had been divided into flats.
  
  Aided by over 1,000 volunteers and Workawayers since 1982, we've fought a 42 year long battle against fires, floods, dry rot, wet rot, bills and bureaucracy to restore it to some of its former glory. In the summer, we open to visitors twice a week, and host a series of concerts.
  
  We do this to preserve our national heritage, and to educate, entertain and inspire people. We don't make any profit from the project - big houses are very expensive to run and maintain - but have been lucky to host more than 1,000 volunteers and Workawayers since 1982, who have generously given their time and effort to helping others to appreciate the history, culture, architecture, landscape and music. We'd love you to join us.
  
  Depending on your age and circumstances, we'll work with you to make sure you acquire the right visa to come to the UK and help us out. We'll provide you with accommodation. Please contact us for more information and to discuss this in more detail.
  
  Thank you for your interest!
  
  Volunteer recruitment is run by the Latrobe Heritage Trust, a registered charity in England & Wales since 1987.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The house is set in beautiful English countryside, with wonderful walks to picturesque pubs and villages nearby. We're only 25 minutes from London Gatwick airport, and just under an hour from central London by train, and we'll give you advice on what to see in London and how to get there.
  
  We'll pay for you to have free English lessons if you would like them.
  
  If you're over 25, qualified to drive, and are planning to stay for longer than two months, we can insure you on a car (if not, we're only three miles from a large town, East Grinstead, and will happily drive you in to do your shopping).
  
  We'll have you to lunch/supper sometimes to improve your English. You'll usually be one of several Workawayers - so you'll even have company for beers and barbecues! We also have two beautiful, smelly - and often rather naughty - dogs, Mabel and Lily, who can't wait to meet you.

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  Registered charity

  This host is a registered charity in the UK and is looking for help with their charity project. Guidance on charity worker sponsorship by a UK registered charity, can be found here.

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  Help

  **Please read before applying - thank you**
  
  We are currently looking for couples and singles for all seasons of 2026. Ideally, you'll have a few existing interests and skills. We get lots of fabulous (and hugely appreciated) emails, and it's very helpful if you can list in your first message some examples of what you've done with these skills in the past.
  
  If you're a good self-starter who's enthusiastic and able to work independently sometimes, you'll do well here. There is always a range of interesting projects; in summer from mending greenhouses and flat rooves, to stonework conservation; growing vegetables to painting window frames; mowing lawns and having tea and cake with our visitors(!). In winter, jobs are typically more indoor, restoration-related tasks, building on heritage skills.
  
  Unfortunately we can't always reply to all your marvellous emails as they tend to arrive by the hundred, but are grateful for all your interest. We only use Workaway when we have a need for Workawayers, so don't always log in to the site as regularly as we might like.
  
  Due to the size and complexity of the house and in order to make stays fulfilling and worthwhile, ideally we need Workawayers who can stay for six weeks or more. Thanks very much for reading this.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Italian: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Workawayers will either have the use of one of three recently refurbished and comfortable cottages. These are comfortable, secluded and have recently been used by our Workawayers.

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  What else ...

  Depending on your age and circumstances, we'll work with you to make sure you acquire the right visa to come to the UK and help us out. We'll provide you with accommodation.
  Please contact us for more information and to discuss this in more detail.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

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