This is an exciting opportunity for a creative individual to establish and lead a community engagement and volunteer programme in an important new visitor attraction in the heart of London. Bevis Marks Synagogue dates back to 1701 and is the oldest synagogue in the UK. You will recruit, motivate and support a team of volunteers and develop a dynamic community engagement programme as part of a small, dedicated team at this special, historic site.
In 2019, Bevis Marks Synagogue received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to restore the synagogue and create The Dangoor Heritage Centre. This project displays and interprets the synagogue’s historic collection for the first time, and enhances visitor facilities. The S&P Sephardi Community established the Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage Foundation (BMSHF) to manage this project and the site's ongoing visitor operations. We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic heritage engagement professional to help make Bevis Marks Synagogue a vibrant place of worship that shares its unique story with a wider community of people of all faiths and none.
Bevis Marks Synagogue, completed in 1701, is the oldest synagogue in the UK and the oldest in continuous use in Europe. Its Grade I listed Wren-style design, well-preserved interior and fittings make it exceptionally historically significant. It is still a working synagogue with a community that has been engaged in the development of the new Dangoor Heritage Centre.
The S&P Sephardi Community’s collection of objects, rich archive, and intangible heritage, such as music and traditions, offer a continuous record of Jewish life in Britain since the mid-seventeenth century. The collection is mainly silver and textiles and many items are of national significance, providing rare insights into the practice of Sephardi Jewish worship, and London’s changing fashions and craftsmanship.
Visitors will be welcomed by volunteers and will explore the synagogue and Dangoor Heritage Centre with the help of an audio guide which includes insightful contributions from a number of members of the Bevis Marks community who have participated in the project. Volunteers will also engage visitors throughout the exhibition areas and support our events programme, shop and catering offer and provide a friendly welcoming experience for a wide range of visitors, from within the UK and abroad.
The construction project is set to be completed by early summer 2025, with the exhibition fit-out over the summer and opening is anticipated in autumn 2025.
Hours: 37 hours a week. Two Sundays per month will be required, along with evening and Bank Holiday working as required by the needs of the business.
Please send a copy of your CV (no more than 2 pages) with a covering letter outlining your relevant experience for the role. Please include demonstratable experience, and address all the requirements of the Person Specification.
Please provide the names and contact details of two referees, one to be your current employer.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.