Arts culture heritage volunteer roles

Experienced Garden Volunteer

The beautiful, award-winning Memorial Garden behind the Museum of Brands was established in 1990 as a peaceful oasis for those living with HIV/AIDS and using the hospice and other services provided in this building when it was the London Lighthouse. The sheltered garden is described by visitors as ‘a haven’,

‘an oasis’, and ‘a hidden gem’. The garden is looked after by a small group of volunteers and the Gardener who originally developed it, working within a very small budget.

This is a small but complex garden, thoughtfully designed and rich in variety. You’ll find opportunities to work on a wide range of tasks — from detailed pruning and planting to structural maintenance and seasonal care. It’s an excellent setting for anyone looking to gain broad hands-on experience, whether you're training in horticulture or simply want to deepen your skills in a purposeful environment.

We are looking for experienced garden volunteers to support the Gardener with the following:

· General garden maintenance including weeding, pruning, deadheading, and mulching

· Planting and replanting seasonal flowers, shrubs, and small trees

· Watering plants and maintaining irrigation as needed

· Lifting and moving heavy pots, tools, compost bags, and garden waste

· Ladder work for tasks such as trimming hedges, cleaning gutters, or maintaining climbing plants

· Sawing and light carpentry, including pruning larger branches and assisting with minor repairs

· Clearing leaves and debris to keep paths and seating areas safe and accessible

· Maintaining and cleaning garden tools and equipment

What we’re looking for:

· A passion for gardening and some hands-on experience (professional or personal)

· Either a trainee gardener, horticulture student, or someone already working in gardening or landscaping or an experienced gardener wanting to give back through volunteer work

· Willingness to carry out practical tasks, including some lifting and ladder work

· Comfortable working outdoors in different weather conditions

· A positive, team-focused attitude with good attention to safety

What you’ll gain:

· Valuable hands-on gardening experience in a unique, award-winning setting

· The chance to be part of a friendly, purpose-driven team

· The satisfaction of helping maintain a space that’s deeply meaningful to others

Training and support:

You will first be invited for a meeting with our gardener, Gary. Volunteers are given relevant training for any tasks carried out, opportunities for regular feedback and we remain open to suggestions on how we can improve the volunteer experience.

Availability:

Our garden volunteers currently come in together on a Thursday.  However volunteering in the garden can occur on any day while the Museum is open (Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-5).  We are looking volunteers who can volunteer over a period of at least 3 months.  Ideally you will be able to start immediately, although this is not essential.

Expenses:

Travel expenses up to £5 will be paid, with up to an additional £5 for lunch expenses if you are here for over 6 hours.

Please note: Applicants from some overseas countries are required to have a relevant work permit or student visa to volunteer in the U.K. We’ll need to see this for our records before volunteering can commence.

Clean Break is looking to appoint a Treasurer to deliver the organisation’s mission through good governance, fit for purpose financial systems and deliverable financial plans through strong partnership working with staff and trustees.

The Treasurer plays a key role in the organisation, working closely with Clean Break's Co-Chairs, the Executive Director (Interim), the Head of Finance & Operations, and fellow Trustees.

This is an important and rewarding role, which will make a significant contribution to Clean Break's mission and support our strategic delivery.

The main responsibilities of the Treasurer include:

• Chair the Finance Committee and provide regular reports to the Board of
  Trustees.
• Collaborate with the Co-Chairs and Executive Director to ensure that the
  Board is empowered to fulfil its financial responsibilities in an informed and
  timely manner.
• Work with the Executive Director and Head of Finance & Operations to ensure
  that the charity’s finance and risk management systems are fit for purpose.
• Work with the Executive Director and Head of Finance & Operations to
  develop and test robust financial plans and to monitor progress against the
  agreed plans.
• Provide support and, where appropriate, professional development
  opportunities for the Head of Finance & Operations and other finance staff.

To find out more about the role and apply, please download our Recruitment Pack.

As a Front Desk Volunteer, you will be the welcoming face of Historic Croydon Airport, responsible for ensuring visitors have a smooth and enjoyable experience. You will manage visitor check-ins, handle donations, and support merchandising activities. 

Responsibilities: 

Reception Duties: 

1. Visitor Reception: 

• Greet visitors warmly at the front door or Reception desk. 

• Check if visitors have pre-booked and verify booking details. 

• Keep the Reception Desk attended at all times. 

1. Booking Management: 

• Obtain booking sheets from Graeme and update them throughout the day. 

• Set out and supervise the donation box. 

• Maintain a supply of hand sanitisers, leaflets, and other materials. 

• Re-stock leaflet holders in the Main Entrance lobby. 

1. Visitor Handling Procedures: People with a Booking: 

• Check the Lead Name off the booking list and confirm the number of visitors in the group. 

• Request a donation of £8 per adult on entry, payable by cash, credit card, cheque (to Historic Croydon Airport Trust), or QR code. 

• Ensure the donation process is completed. 

• Inform visitors of the location of toilets and answer any questions. 

• Ask visitors to wait in the Waiting Area until their Guide collects them. 

• Manage additional visitors, ensuring tour groups do not exceed 12 people, including the Tour Guide. 

People without a Booking: 

• Politely inform visitors that entry is by pre-booking online. 

• Check the booking list for vacant slots and inform visitors of available times and spaces. 

• Advise visitors to book and return at the specified time, noting they cannot wait inside AH. 

• Allow visitors to wait outside for potential "no-shows" if they wish. 

• Be polite, sympathetic, but firm if turning people away, and provide the date of the next Open Day and booking details. 

• Seek assistance from Graeme or Mike if needed. 

1. Visitor Departure: 

• Thank visitors for coming and say goodbye. 

• Encourage visitors to review their experience on Tripadvisor (Croydon Airport Visitor Centre). 

Merchandising Duties: 

1. Merchandise Stall Management: 

• Set up and take down the HCAT Merchandise stall. 

• Retrieve and replace sale items from/to the cupboards under the model in Reception. 

• Run the merchandise stall, selling items to visitors. 

1. Cash Handling: 

• Manage the float, monetary takings, cashing up, and recording total takings at the end of the day. 

• Ensure cash takings are not left unattended and hand them over to a Trustee at the end of the day. 

1. Stock Monitoring: 

• Monitor stock levels and advise Jeff if stocks are running low. 

Qualifications: 

• Friendly and welcoming demeanor. 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to manage bookings and handle donations accurately. 

• Experience in handling cash and managing merchandise sales. 

• Punctual, reliable, and able to adhere to procedures. 

• Commitment to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all visitors. 

Training: Volunteers will receive an induction, including a review of booking procedures, handling donations, and merchandise management. Ongoing training sessions and resources will be provided to support the role. 

Benefits: 

• Be the welcoming face of Historic Croydon Airport. 

• Gain experience in visitor management and merchandising. 

• Contribute to the educational and cultural enrichment of the community. 

• Be part of a supportive and passionate team. 

Application Process: If you enjoy engaging with the public and are enthusiastic about history, we would love to hear from you. 

Volunteer Admissions Assistant

You'll be multitasking throughout the day, with a mix of responsibilities including customer service, ticket sales, promoting Gift Aid donations, shop duties, guiding visitors and providing information about the Museum and the collection. If you enjoy a fast-paced environment and love engaging with people, this is the role for you. 

The Volunteer Admissions Assistant role is all about making a lasting impression and creating a memorable visitor experience. You’ll be:

• Welcoming and engaging with visitors, sharing information about the museum and its collection.
• Selling tickets and gift shop items, ensuring smooth transactions and great customer service.
• Collecting data for Gift Aid and marketing purposes, including how visitors found out about us.
• Creating positive experiences to encourage return visits and word-of-mouth recommendations.
• Helping visitors explore the Museum through interpretation, answering questions and distributing trails, accessibility and family activities.
• Maintaining the gift shop, including restocking, counting stock, and setting up attractive displays.
• Conducting online research and building contact lists to support marketing efforts.
• Promoting the Museum locally, raising awareness and encouraging more visitors to discover what we have to offer!

Who we’re looking for:

We’d like to extend an invitation to anyone, particularly members of the local community.  Full training will be provided, we are looking for anyone with:

• Great customer service skills – you will be friendly and confident about approaching visitors of all ages and backgrounds
• Great communication skills – you will be able to clearly explain information about the Museum and ticketing to visitors
• Good computer skills – with training, you will be able to use our ticketing system, email and Microsoft Office
• Good Sales Skills – you will be able to promote ticket sales and gift shop items as well as encouraging Gift Aid donations
• Multitasking skills – with various responsibilities such as selling tickets, guiding visitors, and managing the gift shop, you will be able to juggle tasks efficiently
• A good telephone manner
• Good team working skills

This role offers plenty of variety, and you'll play an important part in making every visitor's experience unforgettable.

Training and support:

All volunteers will first be invited for a training shift.  We have an induction and training process, during which we give volunteers the information they need to enjoy their time with us. Training is mainly 'on the job', supported by an experienced volunteer as well as the manager on duty. Volunteers are given regular feedback and we remain open to suggestions on how we can improve the volunteer experience. The Admissions Assistant receives continued training and development throughout their time with us.

Availability:

We are looking for volunteers who would ideally like to donate 2-4 shifts per month, weekdays or weekends, either as a 10-1.30pm shift, or a 1.30-5pm shift, for a minimum of 3 months. Ideally, you will be able to start immediately, although this is not essential. Travel expenses up to £5 will be paid, with up to an additional £5 for lunch expenses if you are on a full day shift.

Please note: Applicants from some overseas countries are required to have a relevant work permit or student visa to volunteer in the U.K. We’ll need to see this for our records before volunteering can commence.

Use your leadership skills to help the Third Sector thrive

About Third Sector Leaders Kirklees

Third Sector Leaders (TSL) Kirklees exists to strengthen, connect, and champion the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across the Kirklees district.

What will you be doing?

• Work closely with TSL’s Chief Executive to ensure an effective link between policy, strategy and delivery.
• Effectively lead the Board of Trustees.
• Ensure that the TSL Board follow governance best practice and meet their legal obligations.
• Effectively address any conflicts which may arise between Trustees, ensuring that the Board function as a collective body.
• Chair the TSL Board meetings, ensuring these are effectively managed and accurately recorded.
• Act as a positive ambassador and leader for the Charity with partners, TSL Trustees and the TSL staff team.

What are we looking for?

Experience and Skills:

• Senior leadership experience in the private, public, or voluntary sectors
• Understanding of boards, governance, and organisational accountability
• Experience in leading organisational change, restructuring, or turnaround situations
• Strong strategic insight, sound judgment, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively, providing guidance and challenge with diplomacy
• Appreciation of the voluntary sector, even if not directly from that sector

 Personal Qualities:

• Integrity, credibility, and a strong sense of civic and ethical responsibility
• Confidence and resilience to guide the Board through sensitive or complex situations
• Commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and community impact
• Ability to inspire, mentor, and build consensus among trustees and staff

We’re committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone we work with. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities.

What difference will you make?

As Chair, your presence will bring steadiness and encouragement to a Board that cares deeply about its role, and you will be a supportive partner to our Chief Executive as she leads the next stage of development.

By helping TSL stay collaborative, positive, and focused on what matters, you will play a part in enabling hundreds of organisations to do what they do best - helping people across Kirklees to feel more connected and hopeful about the future.

This is a role where your guidance will truly ripple outwards, strengthening the fabric of local communities through the organisations that support them every day.

Time commitment

Meetings are typically held in person at Brian Jackson House, Huddersfield.

TSL Board meetings currently take place during office hours, but this can be reviewed as necessary.

The estimated time commitment is approximately one day per month. Responsibilities include attending and preparing for five Board meetings annually and a monthly meeting with the Chief Executive.