Staff volunteer at Nunhead Cemetery
Primary page content
Nineteen members of staff from across professional services and academic schools volunteered as part of a recent Civic Day at Nunhead Cemetery.
The staff volunteers in the area of the cemetery where they had been working to clear overgrown ivy and shubbery
Hosted by the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery, Goldsmiths staff helped with practical conservation work. Staff cut back overgrown ivy, brambles and shrubbery, opening up and clearing the space, to maintain an area of the grounds. Waste foliage was stacked up to create habitat piles to encourage insects, small birds and other wildlife.
Staff then enjoyed a tour of the ruined Anglican chapel and crypt on the site, learning about the history of the cemetery.
One of London’s “magnificent seven” Victorian cemeteries, Nunhead Cemetery was consecrated in 1840 and spans 52 acres. The Friends of Nunhead Cemetery, formed in the early 1980s, promote the conservation and appreciation of the cemetery.
A Friends of Nunhead Cemetery volunteer demonstrates to staff one of the areas which needed to be clear
Staff were given a guided tour of the ruined chapel
Civic Days support staff to give back to wider community
Goldsmiths Civic Days initiative supports staff to volunteer with local causes. Since the introduction of Civic Days in 2023, staff have collectively volunteered over 200 hours.
All Goldsmiths staff are entitled to three days of paid leave a year to volunteer. This volunteering can be with any organisation of their choice, but staff are particularly encouraged to take Civic Days to volunteer locally in the borough of Lewisham and South East London.
Staff lunch and tea break
Find out more about staff volunteering and Goldsmiths' Civic Mission