Museum volunteer roles in Strawberry hill, greater london

If you are a history buff, a lover of London or are passionate about museums then we want to hear from you!

London Canal Museum is dedicated to educating and inspiring our visitors with the history of London’s canals – how they’ve shaped London’s development, the ordinary people that lived and worked on them, as well as the entrepreneurs who profited from them. We want to pass on the heritage of the canals so that future generations can learn about London’s industrial and social past. 

Role Location:

London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Road, London, N1 9RT. We are a 5-10 minute walk from Kings Cross St Pancras tube and rail stations.

Role hours:

- One shift a fortnight, from 9.45am until 4.45pm

- The Museum is open Tuesday - Sundays

Role purpose:

The role of the Front of House volunteer is vital to the life of London Canal Museum – in small teams, volunteers in this role ensure the building is open and ready to welcome visitors each day, greet visitors and educate them about the museum’s exhibits and history, keep visitors safe and answer enquiries to keep the museum running smoothly across the day.

Key Tasks:

- Open and close the museum and ensure it is presentable and ready to receive visitors
- Greet visitors, welcome them into the museum and engage with them about the exhibits and history of the building
- Sell admissions, gifts and books, and ensure the till procedures are followed correctly
- Answer telephone and in-person enquiries
- Provide refreshments and assistance during group visits
- Maintain the various museum areas and ensure they are presentable
- Follow museum policies and procedures to ensure the building, volunteers, staff and visitors are safe and well at all times
- Training and support

All volunteers are line managed by the Volunteering and Training Manager, who provides comprehensive inductions and training to all Front of House volunteers in core areas including: 

- Visitor Engagement
- Customer Service
- Health & Safety
- Accessibility in Museums
- Child Protection
- Retail Skills (including using the till)

Benefits to you:

- Learn about the history of London’s canals, the people who lived and worked on them, and their place in the industrial revolution, as well as the ice trade and history of the building

- Meeting new people and having opportunities to socialise with fellow volunteers at events – you will be a part of a community of over 70 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds

- Build your experience of working in museums, heritage and visitor engagement

- Develop your skills in customer service, team work, communication and other key workplace skills

- Opportunities for further involvement with the museum – including archiving and collections care, events, administration, education and guiding walks and boat trips.

- Free entry to the museum and museum events, 10% off in our shop, discounted venue hire and 50% off museum entry for up to 4 friends and family at a time.

- We also have volunteer events, parties and trips that you can enjoy!

- References can be given for all volunteers who volunteer regularly for 6 months or more

Summarising and cataloguing information from digitised audio recordings  and film material. Work with celluloid material must take place at Hendon, work with digitised files could be carried out remotely.

What will I be doing?

• Listening to audio interviews, summarising key themes and producing necessary cataloguing information,

• Reviewing film reels in order to summarise and produce cataloguing information,

• Entering catalogue information into a spreadsheet for the use of museum staff, volunteers and researchers,

• On irregular occasions, supporting celluloid film viewing for visiting researchers.

Some lifting and carrying may be required for parts of this role.

Applications are welcomed from anyone able to fulfil the role, and we are happy to discuss support requirements.

The RAF Museum’s Film and Sound Archive, stored at Hendon, includes a large number of films and sound recordings, ranging in format from celluloid reels and gramophone records to born-digital material.  Although much has been done to catalogue the collection, much remains to be done.  The production of clear, concise and accurate records for sound recordings and film reels will greatly enhance the accessibility of the Museum’s audio-visual collection and preserve these stories for future generations.

Are you passionate about ensuring young people’s voices are heard to drive meaningful change? 

Would you like to help influence the way England’s histories are told?

The Young Producers programme at English Heritage could be for you! 

We are looking for young people aged 18-24 to join our Young Producers from June 2026.

Our Young Producers are at the heart of English Heritage’s youth participation work. Their ideas, creativity and interests help steer and shape the programme and support other areas of English Heritage activity too. 

As a Young Producer you will: 

• Have your voice heard and influence change at English Heritage 

• Join our monthly meetings where you can meet other young people and contribute to decision making within English Heritage 

• Have the opportunity to take part in various projects – recent ones have included LGBTQ+ History, Black History, heritage careers and improving visitor experience for young people 

• Meet heritage professionals and make connections 

• Gain experience that is useful in a variety of sectors and workplaces, from research skills and public speaking to written communication and content creation

We want to ensure our work is relevant to all young people, and welcome applications from all those aged between 18-24.

We are particularly interested to hear from young people who: 

• Are from a global majority background 

• Identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community 

• Have a disability 

• Are care-experienced 

• Are from low-income backgrounds 

If this sounds good to you, we’d love to hear from you. Head to our Shout Out Loud website to find out more and apply. 

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.

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!

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

Could You Help the Founder Build The Next Chapter?

Over 500,000 people have now visited .

What started as a slightly bonkers knitted D-Day idea has grown into:

• a permanent Normandy exhibition
• a second UK touring exhibition
• veteran partnerships
• media attention worldwide
• and more opportunities than one person can realistically manage alone.

We are beginning the search for somebody to help build this properly for the future.

This may suit somebody from:

• military or veteran backgrounds
• tourism or events
• heritage or museums
• operations or logistics
• volunteer coordination
• charity or project management

Most importantly — you need to believe in people, possibility, and what this project represents.

Initially this is about finding the right person and exploring what the role could become over time.

Reporting Structure

The Executive Director will report directly to:

• Founder & Creative Director
• The Board of Trustees

To Apply

If it sparks your interest, please apply with your CV and we can organise an informal chat with the Founder and Creative Director.

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

Creative Director (Volunteer Role)

Organisation: The Lysene Foundation

Location: Remote (global)

Time Commitment: Approx. 8 hours per month

About the Lysene Foundation

The Lysene Foundation is a start‑up charitable organisation inspired by the micronation known as the Principality of Lys — a creative community rooted in the classical arts, architecture, and beauty of the French Renaissance, Baroque, Beaux‑Arts, and the age of Humanism and Enlightenment.

We believe in a new Renaissance for Europe and the wider world. Our mission is to bring the cultural and community spirit of Lys to life through accessible public programmes, including community events, educational initiatives, exhibitions, publications, artistic opportunities, and more.

All activities and resources are open to the public without restriction.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an imaginative, visionary, and highly skilled Creative Director to lead the artistic and aesthetic direction of the foundation. This is a senior volunteer role ideal for someone who is passionate about classical beauty, cultural heritage, and the power of visual storytelling.

You will shape the creative identity of the foundation, oversee the development of visual and artistic materials, and ensure that all programmes, publications, and communications reflect the cultural spirit of Lys. As we grow, you will build and lead a creative department including designers, artists, writers, and content creators.

This is a rare opportunity to define the artistic soul of a cultural foundation at an early stage.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the foundation’s creative vision, ensuring aesthetic coherence across all outputs.

• Oversee the creation of visual assets, branding materials, illustrations, and artistic content.

• Guide the creative direction of programmes, exhibitions, publications, and digital media.

• Collaborate closely with the Heads of Marketing, Programmes, and Partnerships to ensure creative alignment.

• Establish creative standards, templates, and style guidelines rooted in the artistic traditions that inspire Lys.

• Provide direction and feedback to designers, writers, and other creative volunteers.

• Lead the development of campaigns, visual narratives, and cultural storytelling initiatives.

• Build and manage a creative team as the foundation grows.

• Ensure all creative work reflects the foundation’s mission, values, and classical aesthetic.

• Support innovation while maintaining a strong connection to the artistic heritage that defines Lys.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in creative direction, visual design, art direction, or a related field.

• Strong portfolio demonstrating artistic vision and aesthetic sensitivity.

• Deep appreciation for classical art, architecture, and cultural heritage.

• Ability to develop and maintain a cohesive visual identity.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

• Ability to guide and inspire creative contributors.

• Comfortable working in a start‑up environment where systems are built from scratch.

• A collaborative, thoughtful, and imaginative approach.

What You’ll Gain

• The chance to define the creative identity of a global cultural foundation.

• Senior‑level leadership experience within a growing organisation.

• The opportunity to shape artistic direction, visual storytelling, and long‑term cultural impact.

• A creative, mission‑driven environment where your ideas genuinely matter.

• A meaningful role that strengthens your CV and professional profile, with a reference after a minimum of 6 months commitment to our Foundation.

Time Commitment

Approx. 8 hours per month, fully remote, with flexibility around your schedule.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV, portfolio (if available), and a short statement explaining why you’re interested in this role and what you would bring to the foundation.

We Are Lys

We Are The Lysene Foundation