First Visit Winchester Greeters announced for the New Year
New for 2011, Winchester City Council has just launched an American-style 'greeters' scheme to give a personal, free-of-charge welcome to Winchester's visitors.
From the 10th January people can book a ‘greet’ online and one of 12 friendly volunteers will be selected to meet them and share their personal view of the city they love.
The volunteer Visit Winchester Greeters have a wide range of interests and expertise between them – from cycling enthusiasts and keen walkers to historians and art-lovers. Some are born and bred Wintonians, while others have come to visit the city and liked it so much they have stayed.
Alison Woods, at Winchester City Council, who led the project, said “Our new team of enthusiastic volunteers have all made it clear that they can’t wait to share their passion for the city and introduce you to 'their Winchester'. This new scheme means that more people than ever before can receive a welcoming introduction to our beautiful city - it’s an ideal first step for visitors orientating themselves shortly after arrival.”
Councillor Dominic Hiscock, Winchester City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Prosperity, added, “We are extremely grateful to our group of committed volunteers who are willing to give up their time for free to help others explore and experience the history of Winchester and the surrounding District. As well as opening up the offer of a personalized welcome to a broader group of people as we build up to welcoming the world in 2012, it underlines our continuing commitment to adding value to our services during these economically challenging times.”
So if you are planning a trip to Winchester this year, or maybe your New Year’s resolution is to learn something different about the city you live in, you can book a ‘greet’ online with our easy-to-use booking form at www.visitwinchester.co.uk/site/winchester-greeters or call Winchester’s award-winning Tourist Information Centre for more details on 01962 840 500 (open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm).
If you are interested in applying to be a volunteer when we recruit again for 2012, please email Sarah Dack with your name and contact details: sdack@winchester.gov.uk.