Museum volunteer roles

The Story Museum is looking for three people to join the Board of Trustees due to existing long-serving (and brilliant!) Trustees coming to the end of their terms. In this round of recruitment we are actively seeking individuals who bring specific skill-sets and experiences from within the legal, fundraising or education sectors.

The Museum opened in its current form in May 2021. We have since welcomed over 420,000 visitors, mostly children and young people, to our amazing exhibitions and events. Through this interaction with stories and storytellers, visitors of all ages nurture their literacy, creativity and wellbeing.  Audience and participant response to the Museum and our work is overwhelmingly positive; people really enjoy what we offer - in their words, The Story Museum is fun, engaging and creative!

Our vision is a world where young people can discover, shape and share great stories.

Our mission is to transform young lives by bringing stories of all kinds to life - through exhibitions, events and learning programmes, at our museum and beyond, inspiring creativity, literacy and wellbeing.

If you're interested in supporting our goals and in joining a group of engaged and committed senior volunteers please read the Recruitment Pack and take part in our collaborative appointment process.  Application deadline: Thursday 23rd July.

Join a thriving cultural organisation in Dorset. We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us create unforgettable visitor experiences across our world-class collections and temporary exhibitions.

About the role

As a Volunteer Gallery Steward, you'll be the friendly face that welcomes visitors to our galleries. You'll help ensure our precious exhibits are safe while creating a welcoming, engaging environment where visitors of all ages can discover and enjoy Dorset's natural, historical and cultural heritage.

Your day-to-day responsibilities may include:

• Stewarding across our permanent galleries and special exhibitions
• Greeting visitors and sharing your enthusiasm for our collections
• Answering questions about exhibits and helping visitors get the most from their visit
• Contributing to the inclusive, welcoming atmosphere we're known for

Time commitment: We're looking for volunteers available for afternoon shifts on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Full induction and specific training around gallery stewarding will be given on commencement of the role.

Who we're looking for

You don't need museum experience – we're looking for people with:

• An interest in culture, history, or the natural world
• A friendly, approachable manner and genuine interest in people
• Reliability and a willingness to engage thoughtfully with visitors
• Enthusiasm for helping us connect our community with Dorset's stories
• Is security conscious
• Aged 18 or over
• Available during afternoon hours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

Benefits of volunteering with us

In addition to supporting our mission to connect audiences with Dorset's stories, you'll also:

• Develop new skills and gain valuable experience in a museum setting
• Meet people from across Dorset and beyond
• Deepen your knowledge of our collections and Dorset's fascinating heritage
• Be part of a welcoming team of around 140 volunteers and 30 staff
• Contribute directly to the cultural life of our community
• Enjoy a flexible volunteering arrangement that fits your schedule
• Free refreshments when on duty.
• Regular social events.
• Regular volunteer newsletter.
• 10% discount in our shop and TASTE Café.
• Upon completing 50 volunteer hours a year, you will receive a pass that entitles you to unlimited free entry to the museum outside of your volunteering hours.

About Dorset Museum & Art Gallery

We're a registered charity with world-class collections spanning 250 million years of Dorset's natural world, archaeology, history, art, and culture. Our aim is to ignite an appreciation of our county – and of how Dorset people have helped advance understanding of the wider world. Through exciting, fun, and enjoyable public programmes and exhibitions, we work hard to inspire learning, advance knowledge and engage with the widest possible audience.

Dacorum Heritage is seeking a strategic, commercially aware and relationship-focused Trustee to join its Board of Trustees and help strengthen income generation and fundraising for a charitable museum dedicated to preserving and sharing local heritage.

As the Trustee with special responsibilities for income generation and fundraising, you will play a key role in helping the Board diversify income, identify funding opportunities and build relationships that support long-term sustainability. You will bring insight, challenge and practical guidance to help Dacorum Heritage grow earned income, donations, grants, sponsorship and other appropriate sources of support.

This is an opportunity to use your fundraising, business development, marketing or partnership experience to make a practical and lasting contribution to a small charity with an important community purpose. Working collaboratively with the Chair, Museum Manager and fellow Trustees, you will help ensure Dacorum Heritage has the financial resilience to care for its collections, engage communities and deliver its charitable objects for current and future beneficiaries.

Dacorum Heritage is seeking a committed and people-focused Trustee to join its Board of Trustees and help shape the future of a charitable museum dedicated to preserving and sharing local heritage.

You will play a key role in supporting the people who make the Dacorum Heritage’s work possible. You will help ensure volunteers and staff feel valued, heard and well supported, while contributing to the Board’s wider responsibility for good governance, financial oversight and strategic direction.

This is an opportunity to bring your experience, judgement and enthusiasm to a small charity with an important community purpose. Working collectively with fellow Trustees, you will help ensure Dacorum Heritage remains legally compliant, financially sustainable and focused on delivering its charitable objects for current and future beneficiaries.

Purpose of the Role

· Help create a positive, inclusive and well-supported environment for Dacorum Heritage’s volunteers and staff;

· Provide Board-level oversight of volunteer engagement, staff and director recruitment, and relevant HR matters.

What You Will Do

· Work with the Museum Manager to identify volunteer and staff needs, and support best practice in recruitment, induction and retention;

· Support the development of and attend informal volunteer coffee mornings and other social events in person where possible helping volunteers and staff to feel included, informed and valued;

· Develop clear routes for volunteers to share feedback, ideas and concerns;

· Oversee recruitment, interviews and appointments for the museum manager and trustees if required;

· Act as a trusted link between the Board, employees and volunteers;

· Support proportionate, effective HR and volunteer policies aligned with Dacorum Heritage’s strategic plans;

· Contribute actively and constructively to Board discussion, challenge and decision-making;

· Share collective responsibility for good governance, risk management and strategic direction; and

· Represent Dacorum Heritage positively and help build strong relationships with stakeholders and the wider community.

Arts at Home brings conversations about art to people as a tool to tackle loneliness and isolation. Volunteers choose artworks in advance of each session to present to the residents, and though a small amount of preparation is required, prior knowledge of art history is not. Instead, the sessions are participatory and informal, with a focus on communication and connection. Often an artwork will spark conversation about something else entirely, with residents and volunteers reminiscing about past experiences, sharing stories and finding common ground! 

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!

Independent Visitor: Mentor a young person for 2 – 4 hours per month for at least 1 year.

An Independent Visitor is usually an adult volunteer who befriends a young person in care and develops a long-term friendship with them. This often involves helping young people develop new interests, skills and hobbies or going on outings such as going to the cinema, bowling or just walking in the park.
The aim is to provide support, confidence, and fun experiences outside of the young person’s daily environment. If you are looking for a rewarding role with an organisation that makes a difference in young people’s lives, we want to hear from you.

About the role:
•Visit a young person monthly and become a trusted adult friend to them.
•Build a trusting, consistent and positive relationship with the child.
•Provide a child with the opportunity to try new activities (e.g., cinema, bowling, museums, nature walks, or simply having a chat) and spend time with them away from their placement. 
•Provide visit reports and feedback after visits to help us monitor and improve the service.

In return, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Make a real difference – be a positive, stable influence in a young person’s life.

• Have fun and create memories – enjoy activities while building a meaningful bond.

• Gain valuable experience – develop skills in mentoring, communication and young people’s support.

• Access to training and job opportunities – acquire knowledge and experience in a fun setting. 

• Flexible and rewarding – just a few hours a month can change a life!

You will be allocated a budget for each visit for your travel and activity.

Skills:

• Interpersonal Skills – Ability to easily build rapport and identify with young people from diverse backgrounds.

• Communication – Excellent communication skills and good report writing skills.

• Committed – Willing to commit to a child for at least one year. 

• DBS Check – We will carry out safer recruitment checks, and you will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check.

Chair of the Board – cultural leadership, governance, collection development, and strategic advocacy

Peter Scott Gallery Charitable Trust (PSGCT) is the registered charity responsible for the Peter Scott Gallery, a distinctive and valued part of Lancaster Arts and Lancaster University. The Gallery is an Accredited Museum and holds a rich and varied collection spanning thousands of years, from ancient Egypt and Greece to contemporary art, including works by major artists such as Barbara Hepworth, L. S. Lowry and Terry Frost.

Lancaster Arts is an Arts Council England NPO, with a mission rooted in social and environmental justice and a belief in the power of artistic practice to inspire change, provoke critical thinking and create shared experiences. The Gallery plays a vital role in connecting artistic excellence with research, teaching, public engagement and the wider cultural life of the region.

PSGCT is now seeking a new Chair of the Board to provide thoughtful leadership, uphold strong governance, support financial resilience and act as an ambassador for the Gallery and its ambitions. Working closely with the Curator, Director of Lancaster Arts, fellow Trustees, Lancaster Arts Board and university colleagues, the Chair will help ensure the Trust continues to thrive and that the collection is developed, interpreted and shared with ambition and care.

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

• A strong track record of leadership in the cultural sector
• Prior experience as a Trustee, ideally with experience of chairing Boards, committees, meetings or events
• A strategic outlook and with the confidence to convene diverse stakeholders and support active, informed and mutually supportive Board contribution

You will also share Lancaster Arts’ commitment to inclusion, environmental responsibility and socially engaged arts practice, and bring the confidence, networks and enthusiasm to act as an ambassador and connector for the Peter Scott Gallery and Lancaster Arts.

Please see the candidate pack for full details.

• Closing date: Thursday 13th August 2026
• Interviews with Peter Scott Gallery Charitable Trust: from 1st September 2026 onwards
• Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by EOD on 20th August prior to shortlist submission on 21st August.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law. Peter Scott Gallery Charitable Trust particularly encourages expressions of interest from disabled, D/deaf and/or neurodivergent people and those from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Charisma is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment processes. If you have any reasonable adjustments or wish to apply for this role under the Disability Confident Scheme, please contact our Operations Team. Charisma will ensure all candidates who disclose that they wish to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and that meet the minimum criteria for the role will receive an opportunity to interview with the Charisma Consultant representing the vacancy.

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 

Our House Experience Volunteers add the sparkle to any visit – giving everyone a warm welcome, bringing stories from Ickworth to life and helping people get the best out of their day. 

 This role will suit you if you are:

• Warm and friendly.
• Someone with a curious and inquisitive nature, with an ability to engage our visitors, ask questions and facilitate conversations.
• Able to listen thoughtfully and actively.
• Someone with exceptional customer service standards- a desire to put visitors before everything else.
• A good storyteller, with a talent for reading body language and thinking on your feet
• Sensitive to visitor and volunteer needs – working as an effective team member.
• Willing to develop your knowledge of Ickworth, its history and vast collections.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Responding to the diverse needs of visitors, including people with additional access needs.
• Sharing inspirational stories, curious facts and practical information or simply the space for visitors to wander at their own pace.
• Helping visitors to discover more, answering questions and making suggestions so they can enjoy their day, their way.
• Being an ambassador for the whole property and the National Trust. Helping visitors understand the full scope of the offer at Ickworth beyond the house.
• Learning more about Ickworth, so you can share your knowledge and stories of the family and their collections with visitors.
• Responding to the changing needs of Ickworth – supporting ongoing interpretation strategies in the House.
• Supporting with health and safety and evacuation procedures if required.
• Being part of a team that may need to adapt and change in response to local needs, National Trust priorities or changes to government guidelines 

 By getting involved you could· 

• Become part of a friendly and dedicated team.
  Spend time with us at Ickworth, learn about its history, stories and enjoy its beauty.
• Meet people from all walks of life
• Find an opportunity to use your existing skills and develop new ones.
  Improve your communication skills.
  Get a warm glow by knowing you have made a difference to someone’s day out with us.

 You’d also be joining Europe’s largest conservation charity and the wider National Trust team proudly looking after 780 miles of coastline, over 250,000 hectares of land, over 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves (including lighthouses, villages, pubs and a gold mine!). We are a unique charity welcoming millions of people each year and with a vision to open up places for the benefit of everyone, for ever.

All National Trust volunteers will be asked to

• Respect and uphold the National Trust values whilst volunteering with us.
• Complete training required of all NT volunteers and any role specific training
• Adhere to relevant policies and processes including safeguarding, health and safety, and equality and diversity. 

 We want all our volunteers to feel welcome and to have an equally positive experience when volunteering with us. So, volunteers will:

• Be provided with the necessary induction, training, equipment and reasonable adjustments to do this role well and safely
• Be offered expenses to cover agreed travel costs between home and place of volunteering.
• Have remote access to support, news and rotas via our volunteer website 

Skills acquired: Adaptability, Communication Skills, Community Development, Customer Service, Event Support, Exhibition Arts, Fundraising, Interpersonal Skills, Public Relations, Public Speaking, Teamwork, Visual Arts