Holiday Helper

Our International Joust tournaments are the highlight of the year, taking place in our outdoor arena over the Easter Bank Holiday. You will be outdoors and in close proximity to horses, re-enactors (some with fantastic facial hair), and excited visitors.  

Due to the opening of our new Genghis Khan exhibition in June, there will only be one Joust in 2026, so this is your only chance to get involved. See history come to life as knights battle it out in an authentic medieval jousting tournament. Help meet and greet our visitors, welcome them and signpost them to the relevant areas, help with queue busting and the smooth running of the shows. Whooping and cheering is not a must, but is strongly encouraged 

DATES: Friday 3 April - Monday 6 April 2026 

TRAINING: Thursday 19th March at 11am  

Training is mandatory for all new volunteers.  

SHIFT TIMES: ALL DAY (9.40am - 3pm)  

LOCATION: Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds  

This is a brilliant opportunity for people who enjoy working outdoors and supporting the Royal Armouries live events. You will be on your feet for a lot of the day. 

Places are limited so not all applicants will be successful. We are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. 

An induction session and site tour will be held on Thursday 19th March 2026 at 11am. This challenge requires attendance at the induction session and commitmet to at least one day of the Joust.  

What's involved?

You must be available for a 2 hour induction and site tour (if you have not done one already) and at least one of the dates of the tournament 

• Meet and greet visitors 

• Direct them to the event and related areas 

• Checking tickets and helping with seating 

• Help with the smooth running of the show 

• Helping to cover meet and great and shop tidying/restocking in the Museum if required 

• Whooping and cheering is not a must, but strongly encouraged 

What to bring 

• Dress for the weather, this is an outdoor event and you will be outside for part or all of the day. (We recommend boots, layers, suncream, sunglasses, hats, etc) 

• Lunch! 

Why get involved?

• Be a part of one of our biggest events of the year 

• Meet the teams, make new friends and get to experience our exciting horse shows from a unique perspective 

• Learn new skills and knowledge that could be applied to a future career 

• There is plenty to do over the day, but we will ensure you get to see a show during your shift (unless you'd prefer to stay indoors)

How to get involved?

Step 1) Register as a volunteer on our Volunteer Makers portal and accept the challenge.  

Step 2) Attend the advertised induction day, meet the team, ask any questions and have a tour around the site.  

Step 3) Have a great time with us and enjoy your volunteering experience!!  

If you haven't volunteered on site with us before we will ask you to bring along some photo ID - such as a passport - and the contact details of one reference  

Volunteers must be 18 or older for this challenge.