Belfast Charitable Society is set to launch Northern Ireland’s first White Badge accredited tour guide training.
This has been made possible through the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It’s the first heritage site in Northern Ireland to receive this qualification.
It will help raise the professional standards of tour guides in Belfast and beyond, enabling them to train others and offer a culturally rich experience for those visiting Belfast’s oldest public building, Clifton House.
Accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding, this qualification is required by other guides in renowned heritage sites, like the Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and Hampton Court.
Paula Reynolds, CEO at Belfast Charitable Society, said tourism has now become an important part of the economy and with visitor expectations high, they want to exceed tourist’s expectations of what they will learn about Northern Ireland, Belfast and our history.
“The accredited tourist guide training programmes will take place in early 2019, where a number of volunteers will have the opportunity to achieve the highly respected White Badge accreditation. This is an exciting opportunity for people to get a professional guiding qualification; the first of its kind in Northern Ireland,” she said.
Clifton House was opened in 1774 by Belfast Charitable Society – the building was used until the late 1880s as Belfast’s Poor House. The Heritage Lottery Funding awarded Belfast Charitable Society/Clifton House with almost £15,000, which has allowed for the Society to take part the training.
Anna Carragher, Chair of Heritage Lottery Fund’s NI Committee said they were delighted to award funding to Belfast Charitable Society for the new project.
Clifton House is currently recruiting volunteers to become a white badge tourist guide. It’s ideal for people who are passionate about the history and who can volunteer eight hours per month.
More info on White Badge Tourist Guide applications can be found at cliftonbelfast.org.uk or communityni.org.