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Volunteers & students

We have opportunities for volunteers to work alongside our professional staff at the museum, in our stores and out on the historic sites. Please contact the relevant member of staff via our Contact Us button at the top right of this page.

Work Experience

We take a number of Work Placement and Work Experience students each year, usually from the local secondary schools or colleges. We cannot take pupils younger than 16. Students, their parents or teachers should contact the Access & Learning Manager for details.

Paid Holiday Work

From time to time we can offer paid Holiday Work for students aged 16 and over, in particular for those following appropriate subjects at A level or degree level. We will be looking for well-motivated and responsible students capable of working with minimal supervision. Work will often require the use of computers, and the ability to use a camera is useful. Certain opportunities will involve direct work with the public, including children, when craft skills are handy. Applicants will need to be physically fit as the work may involve moving up and down stairs, lifting, carrying and climbing step-ladders. Work on the collections can be both dusty and dirty, and may be repetitive in nature. Applicants should in the first instance contact the Museums Director well in advance of the holidays.

Internships

We will consider applications for Internships of 3 to 6 months duration from applicants who are following appropriate degree courses, or who have completed such courses and require experience in a museum. We may be unable to pay an Intern, but in return will offer a variety of experience and training in museum practice. Some interns have found it useful to work for us part-time alongside paid employment. Applicants should in the first instance approach the Director well in advance of the date they would be available to start.

Volunteers

We are pleased to take volunteers who live locally and are not students but can spare a few hours each week. Volunteers work alongside our professional staff and will usually be assigned projects of their own - these may last a few weeks or even several years! We have both office-based and outside tasks to do. Most volunteer work will need to be done between 9 and 5 on weekdays; there is limited scope for weekend or evening work other than for archaeologists. Volunteers will need to be at last 16 years of age but full physical fitness is not always a necessity. Some training will be given but it is useful if you have a skill to offer. Familiarity with computers is essential for office-based work and physical fitness is required for work on our historic sites. Applicants should contact either the Director or one of the Curators directly.

Volunteer Groups

Do you run an office and want to get your staff out on a team-building exercise for a few days? Or do you run a charity or youth organisation which needs an outdoor project? Our Historic Sites team welcomes proposals to involve groups in its projects to maintain and enhance the 80 sites under our care. Contact the Historic Sites Curator to discuss possibilities.

Police Check

Due to the fact that you will be working with valuable objects and in some cases directly with members of the public, including children, we may ask you to undergo a Police Check.

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