Museum volunteer volunteer roles in London

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!

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.

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