Museum volunteer roles in London

Executive Director

The Longest Yarn

Flexible

Initially Voluntary Basis with Expenses Covered to be based in the U.K. 

About The Longest Yarn

The Longest Yarn is an internationally recognised knitted and crocheted exhibition project preserving wartime stories through immersive textile art, historical interpretation and community participation. Registered as an Association in France since 2023 with CIO pending in U.K. 

Having toured extensively across the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States, The Longest Yarn now consists of two major exhibitions.

One exhibition, The Longest Yarn: Britain at War, is based in the United Kingdom and is already booked to tour major cathedrals and other significant venues through to 2028.

The original D-Day exhibition now has its permanent home in Normandy near the landing beaches, where it is exhibited for approximately six months of the year, with the flexibility to tour across the UK or Europe during the winter months.

Together, the exhibitions continue to grow as a major international remembrance and heritage initiative.

Founded as a simple project combining creativity, education, remembrance, community involvement and support for veteran causes through large-scale public exhibitions and events, The Longest Yarn rapidly exceeded all expectations, attracting more than 500,000 visitors within just 23 months.

We are currently working with several veteran charities, including one major initiative helping to provide a home for a homeless veteran living with PTSD. Developing and expanding our support for veteran causes remains an important part of the future vision for The Longest Yarn.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced, capable and highly motivated Executive Director to work alongside the Founder & Creative Director and Board of Trustees to help lead the next phase of development and growth.

This is a senior leadership role for somebody able to combine practical management with vision, diplomacy, organisational skill and public engagement.

The Executive Director will help oversee day-to-day operations, volunteer management, partnerships, touring logistics, fundraising support, visitor experience and organisational development, while helping strengthen the long-term sustainability of the project.

This role would suit somebody with experience in the charity, heritage, museum, tourism, arts, events or community sectors. Flexibility, humour, imagination and genuine ‘can do’ attitude are absolutely paramount. 

Remuneration

The position is initially offered on a voluntary basis, with reasonable agreed expenses covered.

However, as merchandise, retail activity and other revenue streams are developed and strengthened, remuneration and salary arrangements will be reviewed.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Founder & Creative Director in delivering the long-term vision for The Longest Yarn
• Help oversee operations at the Normandy exhibition site and touring venues
• Assist with volunteer recruitment, organisation and support
• Develop relationships with heritage organisations, tourism bodies, sponsors and veteran charities
• Support fundraising, sponsorship and income-generation initiatives
• Coordinate exhibition logistics, installations and event planning plus workshops at varied venues
• Assist with media enquiries, public engagement and promotional activity
• Help strengthen administrative systems, visitor experience and organisational structure
• Work closely with the Board of Trustees on future planning and development
• Social media development

About You

You will be organised, resilient, adaptable and people-focused, with the ability to work within a unique and evolving international heritage project.

You may come from a background in:

• charities or non-profit organisations
• museums or heritage
• tourism or visitor attractions
• arts, exhibitions or textile art
• events or public engagement
• operations or project management
• fundraising or sponsorship
• community arts, craft or creative education initiatives

Strong communication skills, initiative and a practical hands-on approach are essential.

An interest in remembrance, WWII history, community projects or the arts would be advantageous.

What Makes This Different

The Longest Yarn is not a conventional organisation. It is a deeply personal and internationally recognised remembrance project built through creativity, storytelling and community spirit.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a growing heritage initiative with international reach, meaningful public impact and ambitious future plans.

Reporting Structure

The Executive Director will report directly to:

• Founder & Creative Director
• The Board of Trustees

To Apply

• A CV
• A covering letter outlining your experience and interest in the role
• Examples of relevant project, leadership, heritage, community or organisational work where applicable

What Our Young People and Volunteers Say

·“I look forward to my monthly visits, its time just for me, I choose my activity and we have fun together.”

·“I like how my Independent Visitor isn’t anything to do with social services and is here to support me, not to judge.”

·“They have boosted my confidence. Now I feel like when I go places I can just relax and have fun.”

·“My young person always looks forward to me coming. They have had such a disjointed life; I am a stable figure in their life and this has to be important for them as everything else changes around them a lot.”

We Need A Volunteers in:  FOREST GATE

Could You Be the Difference?

·Have fun on outings –Coffee and a chat, zoo, museums, bowling, trampoline park………..

·Share hobbies or interests – Arts and crafts, football, animals, theatre………..

·Be a positive role model

·Listen, support, and help build confidence

What We Provide

·Full training

·Ongoing support

·Expenses reimbursed (to an agreed limit)

No special qualifications needed. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life who are reliable, caring, and committed.

We need empathetic and motivated people, who are committed to welcoming people seeking safety, to join our Sussex volunteer team. 

What you will receive: 

• Comprehensive training to equip you in your role; including safeguarding training, Induction Training, Activities and Distribution Training and Boundaries and Resilience Training. 

• Support from a wonderful team

• Opportunity to develop skills, including casework, networking, and interpersonal skills

• Greater understanding of the UK asylum system

As a volunteer, there is a range of activities you can choose to get involved in. Some activities include:

• Drop-ins - a weekly social space to share a hot drink, play games and sport, help with requests and signposting to support, and help people learn and practice English.

• Distributions - provide essential items like clothing, shoes, toiletries. 

• Trips - organise trips to places such as the park or museum.

• Events - mark specific days or holidays to get people together and celebrate. 

Care4Calais strongly encourages people with experience of the asylum system to apply, and recognises the specific value that lived experience brings to an organisation.

About Care4Calais 

Care4Calais is a volunteer-led charity delivering essential aid and support to people seeking asylum living in the UK and Northern France. We provide direct aid and advocate for a fair asylum system, including safe routes to claim asylum.

The UK Direct Aid team delivers essential support through practical services; such as running distributions, delivering English classes and casework-style support through drop-ins. The UK Direct Aid team also provides services to promote wellbeing such as trips and sports activities.

You can find out more about Care4Calais on our website or Instagram 

This friendship group was started to provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to make friends, go on monthly trips and overall have a lot of fun. You can help us make that happen!

An opportunity is available to volunteer at a friendship group for adults with learning disabilities No prior experience is required. Enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and a supportive attitude are what matter most.

Projects You May Support

Volunteers can choose to help with one or both projects:

1. Friendship Group

• When: Every Tuesday during term time, 1:30pm–4:30pm
• Where: Canning Town Library

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting participants during various activities (e.g., reading tasks).
• Encouraging communication and helping build friendships.
• Boosting confidence through positive interaction.
• Assisting with setting up and packing away activities.
• Helping individuals get refreshments.
• Building trust through calm, kind engagement.
• Reporting any concerns, incidents, or disclosures to staff.

2. Joy Hub

• When: Usually the last Tuesday of each month during term time (timings may vary; activities announced up to 4 months in advance).
• Purpose: Monthly free outings planned by the Friendship Group—examples include bowling, cinema, theatre, and museum visits.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensuring everyone feels included.
• Encouraging individuals to participate and build confidence.
• Helping with practical tasks such as navigating meeting points, refreshments, and transitions between activities.
• Building rapport through supportive, calm interactions.
• Reporting any concerns or incidents to staff.

Skills You’ll Develop

• Communication: Adapting language, using non-verbal cues, and practising active listening.
• Empathy & Patience: Understanding diverse needs and responding calmly.
• Teamwork: Working collaboratively with staff and volunteers.
• Leadership: Taking initiative while supporting individuals with varying needs.
• Problem-Solving: Managing challenges in a person-centred environment.
• Composure: Staying calm in potentially challenging situations.

Useful Experience (Not Essential)

• Disability awareness
• Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality, and disclosure
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals
• Understanding of neurodiversity and person-centred approaches

Enthusiastic learners are encouraged to apply even without direct experience!

DBS will be provided!

About us

My Life Films is an award-winning charity that uses film and TV to enrich and support the lives of people living with dementia and their carers. My Life TV is our specialist on-demand streaming service, specifically designed to meet the cognitive needs of people living with dementia, for use within care settings and at home.

My Life TV is carefully curated to enable people living with dementia to feel stimulated and connected to the world, improving their mental health and supporting their essential care. 

Our high-quality content includes interactive shows like quizzes, singalongs, drawing and chair yoga; calming content, including animal and nature programmes and slow TV; a wide range of reminiscence programmes, from the 1960s onwards, and much more. 

Since launching in 2021 we work with highly respected content partners, as well as producing our own programming, in partnership with trusted organisations in the dementia care field, and more widely. The Alzheimer’s Society, BFI, Royal Parks, Museum of Brands, BBC Archive and National Trust are just some of the partners we are proud to work with.

We have ambitious plans to scale up its use, so we can reach and support as many people living with dementia as possible.

About the role

Stepping in at the helm of a well-established Board, and working closely with the highly experienced Executive Director, our new Chair will lead My Life Films through its next phase of growth and impact.

The new Chair will review and reinvigorate the charity’s governance, ideally including a board audit, as well as challenging and interrogating the group’s strategic plan.

This role will suit potential candidates who are ready to step-up to chair a not for profit organisation. This means they are likely to bring current or previous board experience as a non-executive or trustee. Candidates may have experience in the care sector, health sector, charity or foundation, possibly an organisation involved in supporting people living with dementia. This experience could enable candidates to draw on networks in the care, health, charity, voluntary sectors, social enterprise or foundation. It will be important that the new Chair can demonstrate a personal passion and commitment to improving the lives of people living with dementia.

The Chair will also help guide the Executive in optimising the existing model, developing new opportunities by helping expand networks and making introductions when necessary. They will act as a critical friend to Executive Director, coaching and challenging as required and providing leadership and strategic direction to the Board.

They will hold the organisation to the highest ethical standards, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements and that My Life Films is run in the best interests of its stakeholders.

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the charity and is collectively responsible for its success. All trustees must take decisions in the interests of the charity.

My Life Films has a trading subsidiary – MLF Productions Limited – and it is expected that the Chair of My Life Films will also Chair the trading company.

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Selection Criteria

When applying, we ask candidates to highlight any areas of expertise they can bring in the areas identified below.

• Skills and Experience –

Governance / leadership

• Any experience of operating at Board level in the voluntary, public or private sector preferably with a knowledge of the Social Care sector.

• Understanding of good charity governance, including trustees’ legal duties, financial oversight and risk management.

• Experience of chairing effective meetings and facilitating inclusive, robust discussion and decision-making Experience of fundraising, advocacy, campaigning, or working with regulators, commissioners or major funders.

Strategy and finance

• Ability to think strategically, interrogate complex information and focus the Board on priorities, impact and long-term sustainability.

• Strong financial literacy and ability to scrutinize budgets, management accounts and risk registers (not necessarily as a finance professional).

People leadership

• Track record of leading senior individuals or teams; able to coach, support and hold to account a CEO

How to Apply

If you are interested in the role, Maana Ruia a trustee with My Life Films and a member of Enter The Boardroom Community would be happy to fix up a time to talk to you. 

Please submit your application to Julian Freeston  The application should comprise a Cover Letter detailing your suitability and desire for the role (no more than two pages) and an up-to-date CV (no more than four pages).

The application deadline is 5pm, 29th May 2026