Volunteering with the National Trust is a great way to get out and about and meet like-minded people, gain experience and develop team building skills. The Giants Causeway recently benefited from a burst of "volunteer" enthusiasm in the form of 55 employees from Volunteer Now.

Jimmy Milliken, Volunteering and Community Engagement Officer with the National Trust at the Giants Causeway said, "The recent award of £3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been a great boost for the internationally important heritage of the Giants Causeway and the Causeway Coastal area. We were delighted that the staff from Volunteer Now came along to help out with the practicalities of helping us move our offices in the interim and also assisted with a beach clean up. Volunteering within the National Trust is always welcome and there are a wide range of activities available throughout the Trust properties."

Wendy Osborne OBE, Chief Executive of Volunteer Now added, "We are happy to have been involved in this exciting opportunity which also highlights the Employer Supported Volunteering Programme which Volunteer Now actively promotes. This is an important aspect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in which organisations play their part to help out voluntary organisations within their local community. It's a win-win situation because not only does it help the volunteer to develop new skills, the community also benefits from their valuable input."

To find out more about volunteering with the National Trust go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteering or if you'd rather talk to somebody who can help you discover what's going on in your area, contact your local National Trust property.