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National Trust defends unpaid intern position
The National Trust has defended its internship policy after advertising a six-month unpaid position at Tyntesfield.
The charity was forced to withdraw a similar job post in 2015 working on a Green Capital arts project created by Bristol artist Luke Jerram.
Public pressure led to the National Trust admitting it had made a “mistake”.
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The latest job advertised is for an events coordinator at the Tyntesfield mansion and estate, near Failand, where an intern is expected to work 22.5 hours a week unpaid for six months.
A spokesperson for the National Trust said the post will give somebody a “great opportunity to gain experience” and to help a future career.
They added that Tyntesfield’s current house manager began as an intern there.
The position advertised comes with free accommodation in apartments in the Tyntesfield stable block, as well as lunch and other expenses.
The spokesperson added: “All interns are set clear goals for their time with us, to ensure we help them develop valuable skills. During the course of the internship, we monitor how these goals are being reached and look at what training opportunities there might be.”
Jerram, who still collaborates with the National Trust, had triggered a public backlash to the previous unpaid intern position, tweeting that it was “wrong”.
He said he did not feel he was in a position to comment on the current job post as it was not part of one of his projects.
Read more: National Trust pull unpaid intern position
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