Digital Champion

As a volunteer Digital Champion, you will help people across Manchester preserve and share the stories that matter to them. Supporting This Is Us: Tracing Manchester’s Histories, you’ll be working with local communities, cultural organisations, researchers, and sector practitioners as part of a community-led storytelling project dedicated to preserving and celebrating Manchester’s diverse histories.

Your role will support participants to contribute their stories, capture memories, and record oral histories for sharing on our growing digital platform. Your contributions will play an important part in the platform’s long-term sustainability and help create an accessible and inclusive historical record that recognises the people, places, and communities that have shaped this city.

Whether you’re passionate about local histories, heritage, or content creation, this is an opportunity to develop new skills while gaining valuable experience in digital storytelling, oral histories, recording techniques, and community engagement.

No experience is needed to apply for this role. Before you begin volunteering, you’ll take part in a free training and induction programme delivered by Manchester Histories staff and experienced practitioners from the heritage, cultural, and community sectors.

Through a combination of practical workshops and hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to:

• Use recording equipment and digital storytelling tools
• Record and preserve oral histories
• Conduct engaging interviews and produce engaging stories
• Work ethically with lived experiences, including consent and safeguarding
• Build confidence supporting communities to share their stories
• Develop inclusive approaches to storytelling and community engagement

By the end of the programme, you’ll have the confidence and practical skills needed to become a Digital Champion – supporting people to record, preserve, and share the stories that matter to their communities.

Digital Champion Training

Training will take place every Saturday in the Manchester Histories Hub, Manchester Central Library from 12 September to 7 November 2026.

To help you get the most out of the experience, we encourage volunteers to attend all training sessions where possible. Please consider your availability for these sessions before applying.

Person Specification

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. You don’t need any formal qualifications or previous experience to become a Digital Champion. We’re looking for people who are enthusiastic, curious, and committed to helping preserve Manchester’s stories.

We want to hear from you if you:

• Have an interest in Manchester’s histories, heritage, and communities.
• Believe in the importance of inclusion, diversity, and representation.
• Are passionate about helping communities share and celebrate their lived experiences.
• Enjoy meeting people and listening to their stories.
• Are keen to learn new skills, particularly in digital storytelling and oral histories.
• Are comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
• Are reliable and able to commit to the training programme and volunteer activities.

Experience in storytelling, community engagement, heritage, digital media, or volunteering is welcome, but not essential. Full training and ongoing support will be provided throughout the project.