Role Description: Collections Volunteer
About the collections at Erewash Museum
Erewash Museum shares the history of the Borough of Erewash with, capturing the stories of those who have lived and worked in the area. The museum has a fascinating collection of objects (totalling over 15,000) relating to the borough’s past and its people.
These include photographs, documents, archaeology, art, social, military and industrial collections and a large reference book collection. Most of the collection is in an off-site store, although some of it is stored in the museum, with a very small percentage on either permanent or temporary display.
The museum has seven galleries and hosts a number of temporary exhibitions each year, showcasing various stories and themes.
What will I be doing?
As a Collections Volunteer you will be working with the small team to help document and care for Erewash Museum’s diverse and fascinating collections, under the supervision of the Heritage and Collections Officer.
Key tasks
Full training will be given and there will be collections information sheets for you to refer to.
You will be working with the Heritage and Collections Officer to assist with any of the following (where possible, we will endeavour to accommodate individual preferences):
- Researching the collections to help answer enquiries, for social media posts and future exhibitions.
- Assisting with collections cataloguing and inputting data onto the museum’s collections database
- Photographing objects to make them more accessible (online)
- Scanning some of the museum’s photographic and ephemera collections
- Assisting with environmental monitoring and pest monitoring in the displays and stores
- Assisting with temporary exhibitions (research, handling objects, helping to select objects for display, writing labels)
- Helping to audit the reference library collection and input onto a spreadsheet
Where will I be based?
You will be based at the museum, mostly behind the scenes.
Sometimes you may be volunteering at the museum’s offsite stores with a member of staff.
How much time will I be expected to give?
We are looking for people who can regularly volunteer on a Tuesday between 10am-2pm when the Heritage and Collections Officer is on site and will be able to support you.
The role offers a variety of tasks in a skilled environment. We believe the volunteer/s will benefit from being able to perform all these tasks in order to understand the role fully and see how these different activities fit together, and to make best use of the professional standard induction that we will provide for this role.
This role is not suitable for those looking for short-term volunteer placements, due to the training involved in this role we would ask for a minimum of a six month commitment.
What skills, qualities and experience do I need?
No professional experience or qualifications are necessary, some basic requirements are:
- Interest in History and Heritage
- Good computer skills
- Good verbal communication skills
- Enjoy working as part of a team
- Careful and methodical approach to caring for collections
- Commitment to undertake relevant training under the Heritage and Collections Officer
This role would suit people who: - Enjoy working with other people, supporting other volunteers
- Enthusiastic and willing to learn about the museum
- Are reliable
- Are willing to undertake training and follow guidelines
- Are happy to work alone or as part of a close-knit team
- Enjoy methodical working with an attention to detail
- Are happy to use a laptop and to use the museum’s collections management database (full training will be given)
- Can work within the museum’s guidelines, policies and procedures
After application, provisional candidates will have an informal discussion with the Heritage and Collections Officer before an offer is made.
What support and training will I receive?
The museum team will provide you with in-house training in the following areas:
- Museum and Collections Induction
- Tasks relating to collections volunteering (collections handling and packing, collections care basics, Modes training, scanning)
- Health and Safety
- Equality and Diversity
- Safeguarding
There may also be opportunities to attend offsite and/or online training through the likes of organisations like Museum Development Midlands and others.
Supervision and support will be provided by our Heritage and Collections Officer. There will be ongoing opportunities to review your volunteering, to check that it is meeting your expectations, and we are both happy in the volunteering relationship. This will enable us to offer ongoing support and further training if required.
What will the museum expect from me?
- To be reliable in attendance and dependable
- To maintain good working relationships with other volunteers and museum staff, visitors and trustees
- To represent the museum in a positive manner at all times
- To observe the museum’s policies and procedures
- To invest in the volunteering relationship so you experience the role fully, benefiting from
the experience - To support the museum's vision and values
- Follow the conditions set out in the Volunteer Agreement
What can I expect from the museum?
- An enjoyable experience
- An opportunity to work closely with interesting and unique objects and find out more about their stories
- The opportunity to learn and develop new skills and experience
- To be treated fairly and with respect
- To become part of a friendly and dedicated team
- Recognition and appreciation for your contribution
- Satisfaction of giving back to the community; promoting the work of the museum
- Regular updates and input meetings
- Provide reasonable out of pocket travel expenses in line with Erewash Museum’s Volunteer Policy
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role of a Collections Volunteer please contact the Heritage and Collections Officer Jessica Fitzgerald to arrange an informal discussion.
If you are interested in becoming a collections volunteer please fill out the form.