Volunteer roles for the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector

Volunteer Admissions Assistant

You'll be multitasking throughout the day, with a mix of responsibilities including customer service, ticket sales, promoting Gift Aid donations, shop duties, guiding visitors and providing information about the Museum and the collection. If you enjoy a fast-paced environment and love engaging with people, this is the role for you. 

The Volunteer Admissions Assistant role is all about making a lasting impression and creating a memorable visitor experience. You’ll be:

• Welcoming and engaging with visitors, sharing information about the museum and its collection.
• Selling tickets and gift shop items, ensuring smooth transactions and great customer service.
• Collecting data for Gift Aid and marketing purposes, including how visitors found out about us.
• Creating positive experiences to encourage return visits and word-of-mouth recommendations.
• Helping visitors explore the Museum through interpretation, answering questions and distributing trails, accessibility and family activities.
• Maintaining the gift shop, including restocking, counting stock, and setting up attractive displays.
• Conducting online research and building contact lists to support marketing efforts.
• Promoting the Museum locally, raising awareness and encouraging more visitors to discover what we have to offer!

Who we’re looking for:

We’d like to extend an invitation to anyone, particularly members of the local community.  Full training will be provided, we are looking for anyone with:

• Great customer service skills – you will be friendly and confident about approaching visitors of all ages and backgrounds
• Great communication skills – you will be able to clearly explain information about the Museum and ticketing to visitors
• Good computer skills – with training, you will be able to use our ticketing system, email and Microsoft Office
• Good Sales Skills – you will be able to promote ticket sales and gift shop items as well as encouraging Gift Aid donations
• Multitasking skills – with various responsibilities such as selling tickets, guiding visitors, and managing the gift shop, you will be able to juggle tasks efficiently
• A good telephone manner
• Good team working skills

This role offers plenty of variety, and you'll play an important part in making every visitor's experience unforgettable.

Training and support:

All volunteers will first be invited for a training shift.  We have an induction and training process, during which we give volunteers the information they need to enjoy their time with us. Training is mainly 'on the job', supported by an experienced volunteer as well as the manager on duty. Volunteers are given regular feedback and we remain open to suggestions on how we can improve the volunteer experience. The Admissions Assistant receives continued training and development throughout their time with us.

Availability:

We are looking for volunteers who would ideally like to donate 2-4 shifts per month, weekdays or weekends, either as a 10-1.30pm shift, or a 1.30-5pm shift, for a minimum of 3 months. Ideally, you will be able to start immediately, although this is not essential. Travel expenses up to £5 will be paid, with up to an additional £5 for lunch expenses if you are on a full day shift.

Please note: Applicants from some overseas countries are required to have a relevant work permit or student visa to volunteer in the U.K. We’ll need to see this for our records before volunteering can commence.

Trustees -  Development or Commercial Expertise

Location: Hampshire (Winchester and Eastleigh) - Board meetings held onsite, Committee meetings held remotely
Role: Voluntary (travel expenses paid)
Reports to: Chair of Board of Trustees

Wonderseekers is currently recruiting two new trustees to join our Board - one with expertise in development and strategic growth, and another with a strong commercial background. These new positions have been created in response to the charity’s growth and the evolving needs of our governance structure, ensuring we have the right skills and perspectives to deliver our ambitious strategy and deepen our impact for children and the planet.

About Wonderseekers

Wonderseekers exists to create a more equitable world where all children can treasure science and are equipped and empowered to improve lives and protect and heal our planet. Our strategy, For People and Planet 2030, sets out a clear vision for the outcomes we aim to influence for children and nature.

We value diversity on our Board of Trustees and the unique contributions each trustee brings through their lived, loved, laboured and learned experiences. We aim to reflect the communities we serve across all levels of the organisation.

The Role of a Trustee

As a trustee, you will help shape our strategic direction, oversee the financial sustainability of our charity, influence future projects, and support good risk management. You will work closely with fellow trustees and the Executive Team to ensure Wonderseekers delivers on its mission, always aligned with Our Promise to Children and our regulatory obligations.

General Responsibilities (All Trustees)

• Engage effectively and constructively in Board and Committee discussions
• Develop strong working relationships with fellow trustees and the executive team
• Understand the voluntary sector and the legal responsibilities of a trustee
• Think creatively and innovatively
• Commit time to meetings, preparation, and informal engagement
• Analyse proposals and assess their impact on our mission
• Be passionate about using science to inspire children to live healthier, more sustainable lives

Role 1: Trustee – Development and Strategic Growth

We are seeking a trustee with experience in strategic development, income generation, and fundraising - ideally within the charity sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic oversight of Wonderseekers' forward plans, major initiatives, and campaigns
• Guide the Board on building external relationships with funders, partners, and stakeholders
• Support the Development Team in evolving fundraising strategies (individual giving, grants, trusts, corporate partnerships)
• Shape strategies for income generation, sponsorship, and donor stewardship
• Contribute to public relations, communications, and marketing
• Champion Wonderseekers’ mission and connect new supporters with our vision
• Serve and Chair the Fundraising Committee

Role 2: Trustee - Commercial Strategy

We are also seeking a trustee with a strong commercial background, particularly in the visitor experience sector, with financial acumen and senior experience in either a commercial or charitable setting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain strategic oversight of Wonderseekers' commercial performance, especially at our visitor centre in Winchester
• Advise the Board on commercial matters and support the COO in long-term growth planning
• Lead or support on commercial risk management
• Serve as a director and Chair of our trading subsidiary, Sparking Curiosity Limited

Trustee Requirements (All Roles)

• Commitment to the charity’s purpose, values, and objectives
• Constructive and respectful collaboration
• Responsible and reasonable conduct
• Confidentiality on sensitive matters
• Preparedness and presence at meetings
• Analytical thinking and constructive challenge
• Support for collective decisions

Trustee Arrangements

• Board size: Up to 12 trustees
• Term: Up to three terms of three years each
• Meetings: Quarterly Board meetings (in person), up to four committee meetings per year (online)
• Strategy Day: Annual planning day in September
• Time commitment: Board/committee meetings, preparation, informal engagement, and key events
• Support: Induction, ongoing training, and reasonable expenses covered

Board Diversity

We are committed to building a Board that reflects the diversity of the children and communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those who bring lived experience and perspectives currently underrepresented on our Board.

Vice-Chair Opportunity (Optional)

We are also looking to appoint a Vice-Chair (or two Co-Vice Chairs). If you are interested in this additional role, please indicate this in your application. A full Vice-Chair role profile is available upon request.

How to Apply

For a full role profile for each role, please visit www.wonderseekers.charity/vacancies

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to Meika Young, Executive Assistant, (see website for email address). We are operating a rolling deadline - please apply as soon as possible.

Our Programming volunteers provide a warm welcome to everybody as part of the programming on property, making sure our visitors get the most from their experience with us. 

 This role will suit you if you are:

• Someone who loves meeting people and being part of a team
• Looking for new experiences
• Wanting to utilise your communication skills or develop them further
• Someone who enjoys a busy environment
• Flexible with what you can support with, there will be a rota you can pick and choose the events and activites you wish to get involved in
• Cheerful – even when last minute changes including the weather affect proceedings

By getting involved you could:

• Help support activities across the property
• Support ticketing, guiding, ushering and hosting events with external partners
• Enjoy some of our events 1st hand from a seat in the wings
• Become part of a friendly and dedicated team
• Enjoy new experiences and learn something new every day
• Build your confidence and experience
• See first-hand the rewarding results of helping visitors have a great time
• Share your enthusiasm and passion for what we do 

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

Tasks and responsibilities

• Providing a warm, welcoming and friendly approach to all of our visitors to our events and activities
• Supporting our visitors by providing them with information and guidance so they get the most from their time with us during the event
• Supporting visitors at several points throughout their experience
• Being ‘in the know’ at events and during activities to best help our supporters enjoy it in the way best suited to them
• Support accessibity needs during events to help ensure all visitors are feel included and welcome
• Responding to situations to ensure we always provide a great experience for people – and often spotting issues before they happen!
• There will be plenty of opportunities to do the little things that make a big difference to someone’s experience at Ickworth
• Helping things run as smoothly and safely as possible – this includes getting to know health and safety and evacuation procedures.
• 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

Skills acquired: Adaptability, Advice & Guidance, Communication Skills, Community Development, Crafts, Customer Service, Event Support, Fundraising, General Education, General Play and Recreation, Guiding, Interpersonal Skills, Music Arts, Public Relations, Teamwork, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, Youth Activities Management