Museum volunteer roles in london

The International Council of Museums in the United Kingdom (ICOM UK) is seeking a new trustee with strong financial acumen and a passion for the museums and heritage sector and working internationally to be the Finance Lead on our Board. This is a strategic finance role to support the Strategic Director and advise the Board of Trustees in respect of the conduct of the charity’s financial affairs.  

The role requires experience and skills in financial planning and management, preferably in a charity and/or company, along with the ability to understand and communicate the impact of decisions on the organisation’s finances. 

We welcome applications from professionals with the skills, knowledge and lived experience that will strengthen and diversify our Board. 

 For further details on the roles and ICOM UK, you can view our Finance Lead Trustee Recruitment  Pack. 

Join the Florence Nightingale Museum as its next Chair and lead this beloved institution into its exciting next chapter - honouring a global icon, inspiring young minds, and shaping a bold, inclusive future.

Applications close: 9 a.m. Friday 12th September 2025

Location: London, SE1 7EP

Time commitment: 1 – 2 days per month

About Florence Nightingale Museum

The Florence Nightingale Museum is a much-loved cultural institution that celebrates the life, work and enduring impact of one of history’s most iconic figures. Situated within St Thomas’ Hospital, just across Westminster Bridge, it brings to life the story of Florence Nightingale – pioneer of modern nursing, statistics, and public health reform – through immersive storytelling, personal artefacts, and dynamic exhibitions.

Visitors journey through Nightingale’s privileged childhood, her revolutionary work in the Crimean War, and her lifelong dedication to healthcare reform. The museum holds over 800 of her letters and a rare book collection, drawing school groups, researchers, healthcare professionals and history lovers from around the world. For many children, it’s their first museum experience, providing an inspiring introduction to the power of history, healthcare, and activism.

About the role

As an entirely self-funded charity, the museum is now poised for an exciting new chapter. With visitor numbers recovering post-pandemic and fresh ambitions for growth, the museum is seeking a dynamic and visionary Chair to lead its Board of Trustees.

This is a rare opportunity to lead in shaping the future of this unique institution – supporting its strategic direction, championing its work, and helping it continue to inspire, educate and lead conversations around health, history, and care.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a confident, collaborative leader with a strategic mindset and a deep appreciation for the museum’s mission. You will bring both passion and pragmatism – able to guide the organisation through an exciting period of development while ensuring sound governance and long-term sustainability.

You will possess:

• Proven strategic leadership with experience chairing boards or leading organisations through growth or change
• Strong governance understanding, including financial oversight and charity board responsibilities
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, able to represent the museum externally and build relationships across sectors
• An inclusive, thoughtful approach to leadership valuing collaboration, diversity and different perspectives
• The ability to act as a critical friend, supporting and constructively challenging the General Manager and wider team
• Advocacy and fundraising insight with an understanding of how to build profile, partnerships and resources.

While a background in museums or healthcare is not essential, candidates should be motivated by Florence Nightingale’s legacy and its ongoing relevance to nursing, public health, and social justice. A forward-thinking perspective and a willingness to invest time and energy into the museum’s success are key.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Friday 12th September 2025.

Job description

Dr Johnson’s House is a charming Georgian townhouse, nestled amongst a maze of courts and alleys in the historic City of London. Samuel Johnson, writer and wit, lived here in the mid-18th century, and compiled his great Dictionary of the English Language in the Garret. Today, the House is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, with collections relating to Johnson, restored interiors, and a research library.

Events Volunteer

Our Events Volunteers play a vital role in welcoming visitors to Dr Johnson’s House during our evening events. At the moment, we need volunteers to help at our Museum Lates. Our visitors love to explore the House after hours and volunteers play an important part in creating a memorable and interesting experience for them.  

Activities

We need help between 5.15pm and 7pm on the following dates:

Thursday 24 July, 5.30-7pm

Thursday 21 August, 5.30 - 7pm

Thursday 25 September, 5.30 - 7pm

Thursday 23 October, 5.30 - 7pm

What it involves (one of the following)

• Ticking off names on the guest list. Most will have prepaid + a few walk-ins.
• Chatting with visitors and answering queries.
• Serving sparkling wine and setting out glasses.

If you enjoy 18th century studies, you may like to give a short 10 minute talk at one of these events. (optional)

An accredited museum and award winning visitor attraction, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is a charity and the largest surviving Great War aerodrome in Europe.

We are a centre for volunteering and, with the assistance of over 100 volunteers, we deliver an extensive programme of educational and fundraising events each year designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of visitors including historians, aviation enthusiasts, school parties and families. 

We also open to the public most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

We are looking for people who can our meet, greet and provide information to our visitors, all wrapped up in a friendly welcome to the site. This will also include taking care of our small retail outlet.

You will become familiar with our shop and our range of gifts and gradually build up your knowledge of our museum and exhibitions.

Are you... 

• Friendly and confident when talking to people of all ages and backgrounds
• Able to build strong relationships with staff and other volunteers
• Happy working in a small but busy team
• Willing to learn the operation of a simple till system
• Willing to find out more about our displays and exhibitions
• Happy to undertake other ad-hoc roles

This could be the perfect role for you! 

An accredited museum and award winning visitor attraction, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is a charity and the largest surviving Great War Aerodrome in Europe.

We are a centre for volunteering and, with the assistance of over 100 volunteers, we deliver an extensive programme of educational and fundraising events each year designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of visitors including historians, aviation enthusiasts, school parties and families. 

We are looking for volunteers to help in our beautiful 1917 Airmen’s Mess Café with views over the aerodrome and the wildlife that thrives there. It is the heart of our site and popular with all our supporters and volunteers.

We open to the public, most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are flexible but are mainly worked on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when we are open to the public.

Come and join our friendly team under the capable management of our experienced Kitchen Supervisor.

No previous catering experience is needed as training will be given.

Are you:

• Friendly and welcoming
• Willing to engage with our visitors 
• Happy to work as part of a small but busy team
• Punctual and reliable
• Flexible and happy to take on a variety of tasks including use of a simple till system

This role could be perfect for you!

Based in either our Main Gallery or Stables Gallery, the role is integral in providing a high-quality visitor experience by bringing our gallery spaces to life by welcoming and engaging visitors, as well as sharing your passion and the stories of our exhibitions.

Tasks and Responsibilities 

• Welcoming and engaging visitors in a warm and friendly manner 
• Interpreting our gallery spaces, exhibition content, the Richmond Borough Art Collection and the gallery’s history for all ages and abilities
• Being a visible presence in our galleries, ensuring everyone's safety and the security of our exhibitions
• Guiding visitors around the gallery and wider site
• Monitoring visitor numbers and contributing to evaluation initiatives 
• Representing the Gallery and Richmond Arts Service

What we hope you will get from the role 

• The opportunity to engage with people and communities from the local area, West London and beyond
• Opportunity to develop interpersonal and communication skills
• -An insight into the day-to-day running of a contemporary art gallery and museum crossing a range of sectors 
• Opportunities to engage with artists and learn about their practice
• An understanding of the breadth of arts activity offered by Richmond Arts Service 

Training and Support 

We will provide training and an induction which covers all aspects of the role. On-going support and supervision will be provided by staff throughout your time with us. Additionally, there are regular training sessions to supplement and further your initial training, as well as a varied programme of volunteer events and activities to join in, meet people and learn something new!

We offer a tour of our exhibitions with the artist(s) or a member of staff prior to their opening. This will give you a first hand insight into the concept, processes and artist’s vision behind the exhibition. 

Desirable qualities and experience 

• Enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people and sharing information
• Interest for contemporary art, history and/or heritage 
• Able to answer enquiries in a friendly and helpful manner 
• Willingness to learn 
• Enjoys being part of a team 
• Ability to complete tasks independently 
• Good time keeping 

Availability 

The gallery is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm, with two volunteer shifts a day, 10am – 1pm and 1pm – 5pm.

We ask for a minimum commitment of one shift every fortnight, although there is flexibility over scheduling.

Location 

This role is based at Orleans House Gallery, in either the Main Gallery or Stables Gallery. 

Expenses 

We will cover travel expenses up to £17 per day.

Volunteer for the friendliest club in London!

About the opportunity

Can you spare 2 hours a week on a Thursday evening to work with some of the most friendly, welcoming people you’ll ever meet? If so, then please come and help our volunteers to organise fun activities at our ever-growing club for people with learning disabilities. No previous experience is needed, you just need a caring attitude and sense of fun.

Our club is split into two age groups 14-25 yrs (Juniors Club) and 25 yrs+ (Vets Club). You have a chance to make a real difference to either group by creating new experiences, helping our members to grow in confidence, build friendships and learn new skills. Our specialist club leaders will support and train you and you’ll benefit from working in a very rewarding environment!

What are we looking for?

• You do not need previous experience, just an open mind and a positive attitude towards disability.
• You need to be willing to have fun and commit to The Vets Club or Juniors Club, on at least a fortnightly basis.
• You will need enthusiasm and good communication
• Available regularly (but not necessarily every week) on Thursdays between 7pm and 9pm.

Why take part?

The Squad helps to reduce social isolation; helps vulnerable people to grow in confidence and play a part in their wider community. 

In this scheme you will no doubt learn new things about yourself and life.  You will develop great skills and be part of a rewarding experience.  The Vets Club and Juniors Club will support you throughout, offering training, advice and supervision.

What does a typical Thursday night session look like?

It can be anything from cooking, visiting a local open mike night, museums, arts and crafts, the most competitive game of Uno you'll ever have, table tennis, basketball, musice, dance, we tried sound-bathing recently, basically anything and everything that we design with our members.

Please note: Applicants must be UK-based and able to travel easily to Wimbledon area. Living in London or near SW London. Travel expenses are not covered to and from Squad but reasonable expenses can be covered (when agreed in advance) for travel or other necessities as part of Squad sessions.

Family Friends carefully recruits, trains, and matches volunteers with families in Central-West London. Our befriending volunteers offer long-term practical and emotional support based on each family's unique needs and potential. We offer two befriending volunteer opportunities with us-, Big Buddies and Parent Buddies.

Our Big Buddies support young people, aged 10-18, for a few hours each week over a period of 6 -12 months. With encouragement and support, volunteers will aim to help young people to discover their strengths and build confidence.

Support may look like:

• Helping to strengthen family relationships.
• Providing a listening ear 
• Taking young person to the cinema, museums, libraries - broadening their horizons!

Essential Criteria:

• Can commit to the Big Buddies programme for a minimum of 6 months
• 18+
• Must have lived in the UK for the last 2 years

What we provide in return:

• Full induction training and ongoing training
• Full DBS check
• Support and supervision
• The chance to learn new skills
• References provided after 6 months' commitment
• Reimbursement of travel and session expenses

We are an equal opportunities charity and we value the principles of diversity and inclusion, which is central in providing successful support to our families. We welcome and would like to encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, including people from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQI+ and individuals from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds.

In the first instance, please register your interest in becoming a volunteer with us by contacting us here for an online application form.

Once we've reviewed your application, a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

Are you passionate about helping women build their lives beyond crisis? We are recruiting for volunteers to support victims of Domestic Abuse on a 1 to 1 basis. This is a chance to empower other inspirational women by building their confidence and teaching them new life skills in order to achieve their ambitions and goals. You will be supporting women and children to rebuild their lives free from fear!

What you will be doing

• To develop and promote a positive relationship with the service user through regular meetings
• To encourage service users to engage in social activities and supporting them in doing so
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals
• To support and help the service user to get familiar with their new environment/area/community and show them where the local shops, GP, etc are located
• To plan activities with your befriendee, such as a walk, visiting museums
• Manage appropriate boundaries

The skills you need

• Have good listening and communication skills
• Be non-judgmental and motivational in approach
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow operating guidelines
• To be consistent and dependable when working with a service user
• Lived in experience and ability to speak another language such as Hindu, Urdu, Farsi, etc would be desirable but not required

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

We’re looking for volunteers with a keen interest in dementia to join our team of Trustees, contributing their experience and skills to help support, shape and develop the charity.

Who we are

Arts for Dementia uses the power of the arts to inspire people living with dementia to get creative, connect, learn new skills and most importantly, have fun.Our free workshops aim to challenge and boost confidence and wellbeing through a variety of art forms from visual arts to drama, sculpture, dance and more.

For people living with dementia and those who support them day to day, these are opportunities to make friends in a safe and friendly setting, to be part of the local community, to stay active and to enjoy the fulfilment that comes from creative activities. Our current priority locations are the London boroughs of Southwark and Camden.Our in-person workshops are all in London, while online activities are open to people across the UK.

Our regular one-day training courses provide creative facilitators across the UK with the knowledge and skills they need to support dementia-friendly activities.

The role of a trustee

Our team of trustees plays a key role in setting the strategy – the overall direction – of the charity. There are four formal board meetings each year where, together with the Chief Executive, our trustees oversee the delivery of the strategy and financial management, consider operational plans and explore what support they can provide to enable the staff team in their work.

Often this support is connected to a trustee’s expertise in a particular field, for example marketing, fundraising, I.T. or legal, or the networks they have access to such as local community groups, potential donors or arts organisations. 

Specific areas of activity such as finance and fundraising are also supported by small sub-committees that bring appropriate staff and trustees together so that work can be progressed between the quarterly meetings. These are arranged at times to suit those involved. 

Currently quarterly meetings of all Trustees are held in person and online alternately. Online meetings are early evening, and in-person meetings are in central London during the day. They each last for two hours. If it helps new trustees to be fully involved, we are happy to explore different timings for future meetings. 

What difference could you make?

If you are reading this, it is likely you care about the lives of people living with and affected by dementia, and you may well have some personal experience. You can make a real difference to those and others affected by bringing your additional experience into the charity.  This might be from involvement in your community or your understanding of dementia within a minoritized ethnic group. It might be from your work, leisure activities or your profession.

The important thing is that your experience should broaden our knowledge, help us reach a wide range of people and ensure our charity is far-sighted and well run. 

What you could gain from being a Trustee

We know that dementia and its effects have no barriers, so our approach to recruiting new trustees aims to have no barriers and to be supportive and open to ideas.  You may have never considered yourself as a potential trustee but feel that you do have something you could offer to a charity like ours. If so, do please contact us. 

As a Trustee, you would be working with a friendly and approachable board that brings together a range of experience, which is enhanced by the skills of the staff team. The role also comes with responsibilities that incorporate legislation and good governance practice and this Charity Commission document explains these. 

All new Trustees will benefit from an induction programme that allows them to get to know the staff and other trustees, meet some of the beneficiaries, learn how the charity works and understand the formal responsibilities.  We would also enable you to develop your skills and confidence through access to training and information on Trustee responsibilities and skills.

There are many opportunities to broaden your own experience and develop your confidence in new skills within a supportive environment. 

We also ensure no Trustee is out of pocket due to their responsibilities, so all reasonable expenses (e.g. travel to board meetings) are reimbursed. 

Based in the Reception of the Main Gallery, you will be the first point of contact for visitors to the Gallery, giving a warm welcome, assisting with enquiries and ensuring a high-quality visitor experience. You will also support the day to day running of the Gallery, dealing with administrative duties and supporting the Gallery Shop, sharing product information with visitors and taking sales.  

Tasks and Responsibilities  

• Welcoming and engaging visitors, providing information about the gallery and programmes  

• Responding to telephone, email and face to face enquiries  

• Being a visible presence in the Gallery space, ensuring everyone’s safety and the security of artwork and our retail space 

• Guiding visitors around the gallery and wider site 

• Assisting with sales and shop displays, including cash handling 

• Maintaining a neat and tidy reception and retail area  

• Supporting our retail work, with stocktaking, pricing and other tasks 

• Monitoring visitor numbers and contributing to evaluation initiatives  

• Representing the Gallery and Richmond Arts Service  

What we hope you will get from the role 

• The opportunity to meet new people and engage with the local community 

• Improved and demonstrable administration and communication skills 

• Valuable insight and experience of a contemporary art gallery, crossing the arts, cultural and heritage sectors 

• An understanding of the breadth of arts activity offered by Richmond Arts Service 

Training and Support  

We will provide training and an induction which covers all aspects of the role. On-going support and supervision will be provided by staff throughout your time with us. Additionally, there are regular training sessions to supplement and further your initial training, as well as a varied programme of volunteer events and activities to join in, meet people and learn something new! 

Desirable qualities and experience  

• Enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people and sharing information 

• Interest for contemporary art, local history and/or heritage  

• Able to answer enquiries in a friendly and helpful manner  

• Willingness to learn, particularly administrative skills 

• Enjoys being part of a team  

• Ability to complete tasks independently 

• Good time keeping  

Availability  

The gallery is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm, with two volunteer shifts a day, 10am – 1pm and 1pm – 5pm.   

We ask for a minimum commitment of one shift every fortnight, although there is flexibility over scheduling.   

Location  

This role is based at Orleans House Gallery in the Main Gallery building.

Expenses  

We will cover travel expenses up to £14 per day.   

How to Apply  

Please complete our application form through our website.

Our Volunteers Co-ordinator will then contact you for an introductory chat, to learn more about your interest in volunteering and discuss the role further.   

Background  

Richmond Arts Service is based at Orleans House Gallery on the Riverside in Twickenham, promoting arts and culture through a programme of contemporary art exhibitions, festivals, events and activities for everyone in the community.   

We foster creativity and enjoyment of the arts, enable people to reflect on their lives and develop new ways of seeing the world. We bring thought-provoking art to the Borough and cultivate a network of individuals, organisations and programmes that nourishes the arts, local organisations and communities.

Home to the Richmond Borough Art Collection, comprising of over 4,400 artworks, at a site with a rich 300+ year history, Orleans House Gallery works with local, national and international artists and community partners to engage with the community, as we have done since 1972.   

Help transform access to classical education in state schools. Join Classics for All as a Trustee and support our mission to advance social mobility and educational equity across the UK.

Classics for All is a national charity working to ensure that every young person - regardless of background - has the opportunity to study Latin, Ancient Greek, ancient history and classical civilisation. Since 2010, we’ve supported over 1,300 state schools and reached more than 185,000 pupils, many in areas of high deprivation.

We are now seeking new Trustees to join our engaged and collaborative Board as we enter an exciting new phase of growth. Our focus is on expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and embedding social mobility and inclusion at the heart of everything we do.

We are particularly interested in individuals who bring:

• A strong commitment to educational equity and social justice
• Lived experience of the barriers we aim to address
• Skills in legal, digital transformation, or marketing and communications
• Strategic thinking and a collaborative mindset

We welcome applications from first-time trustees and are especially keen to hear from people based outside London and the South East, and from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the charity sector and Classics education.

This is a general trustee role. All Trustees contribute to strategic planning, support the executive team, and act as ambassadors for our mission. Board meetings are held quarterly (mostly online, with one in-person meeting per year), and we host an annual away day.

If you believe in the power of education to change lives - and want to help make classical subjects accessible to all - we’d love to hear from you.

Join the London Wildlife Trust Youth Board 

Applications now open for 8 new Youth Board members (ages 16–25)

Are you passionate about nature, social justice, and making real change in your community? London Wildlife Trust is looking for enthusiastic, motivated young people from diverse backgrounds to join our Youth Board. The Youth Board consists of 15 motivated young people (aged 16-25) who are passionate about London’s wildlife and ensuring young people’s voices are heard. Over the year we meet every month in person at one of our London Wildlife Trust sites to discuss and plan a range of projects and topics. 

Why join?

• Paid-for residential nature retreat in Norfolk
• Monthly in-person meetings and mentoring from senior leaders
• Create campaigns, curate events, speak in front of new audiences, and more
• Training in leadership, public speaking, careers, and conservation
• Build your network, boost your CV, and inspire others
• All travel and food expenses covered

You do not need experience in nature or conservation — just passion, commitment, and a desire to create change.

Some examples of what we've achieved in 2024/25

• Created an eco-anxiety zine

• Wrote and produced a short film on connecting with nature in London

• Presented at events such as the Wildlife Trusts' Hope Week and House of Lords Maiden Speech

• Take part in interviews for Director vacancies in the Trust

• Meeting with the Deputy Mayor to discuss plans for London

Deadline: Sunday 3rd August at 11:59pm

 Must live in Greater London at least 7 months of the year (see GLA postcodes attached)
 Residential dates: 26–28 September
 Apply in writing, video or voice note 

Let your voice be heard!