Volunteers
Get involved!
Are you looking for an opportunity to get more involved in the work of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums? Do you think that you can use your skills and interests to make a difference in the work that we do?
Learn new skills, meet new people and become part of the organisation through volunteer positions at our venues.
Full time, part time, short term options
Opportunities Across the North East
What's in it for you?
There are lots of reasons why you may want to volunteer with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. These are just some of them:
Strengthen your CV
Develop your skills and your CV with some volunteering. Many of our volunteers have found that through their time with us, they have learnt skills and grown confidence that has helped them to gain employment. Although none of our placements have turned directly into paid employment, a number of our volunteers have gone on to gain employment with us at a later date.
Make new friends
Meet like-minded people through a volunteer placement with us.
Transport costs
We will cover all transport costs both to and from your volunteer placement and any trips that you need to make as part of the job. This can either be the cost of public transport or car mileage.
Lunch costs
If you are placed in a venue with a café, lunch vouchers are available for any volunteer working a full day.
Staff discount
All volunteers are entitled to a staff discount at TWAM cafés and shops.
We are sorry but we do not cover the cost of childcare.
What do our volunteers do?
Our volunteers are currently involved in a range of activities, including:
- Being the welcoming face of our venues: by working on the information desks to meet and greet visitors.
- Volunteering in the stores and helping to catalogue our extensive collections.
- Volunteering with the learning teams to help facilitate exhibitions and explain exhibits to visitors.
- Bringing our rail heritage alive by helping with the day to day running of Stephenson Railway Museum.
- Stewarding or assisting with the organisation of special events.
Full time, part time, short term options
Volunteering with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums is very flexible and we appreciate the time that volunteers give to us: whether long or short term. Volunteers can offer anything from a day a month right through to full time support. We also offer some student placements for set periods of time.
Current Opportunities
Volunteer with us at our Blaydon Races and Olympic Torch Relay Event!
We have an exciting opportunity to get involved with the delivery of a Blaydon Races themed event on the 15th June at the Centre for Life. The event will tie in with the passing of the Olympic torch at 6.30pm that evening, so volunteers will be able to see this for themselves!
We are looking for a small group of volunteers to assist our learning team with the setting up, explaining, and managment of different activities for family audiences, handing out flyers and freebies to visitors, and collecting evaluation feedback.
Volunteers will be needed on the 15th June, between 5pm and approximately 7pm. The role supervisor will be able to meet you for a briefing prior to the event, and this can be arranged at you own convenience.
Volunteers may have to dress up in 'Blaydon Races' costume and sing along to the song, so confidence would be a plus! Volunteers should also be happy to work outside, be friendly with the general public, and will ideally be able to lift and carry light items as part of setting up the event and packing away.
This is a really special opportunity, so if you're interested please just contact the volunteering team!
Be a 'Good Sport' and Volunteer with our Home and Away Exhibition!
Home and Away: North East Sport and the Olympics is an exhibition about the history of sport in the North East of England in th epast 200 years. It will include sports played and followed in the region, as well as the activities of sportsmen and women who have travelled away to take part in the Olympic and Paralympic games.
We require volunteers to help us steward this exhibition, lead short tours, monitor the object handling area, and answer questions from the public.
The exhibition runs from the 21st July 2012 to the 14th January 2013. There will be two shifts a day, 11am-1pm, and 2-4pm. We'll need two volunteers per shift, and will only require volunteer support during the school holidays. The exhibition will be based at Discovery Museum.
Knowledge of sport is desirable but not essential, as you'll probably learn a thing or two while volunteering with the exhibition! An interest in the history of the north east and confidence in talking to people would be beneficial.
Volunteers will receive training in exhibition stewarding, the content of the exhibition, and object handling.
If you'd be interested in helping out, get in touch!
Volunteer with the Laing Art Gallery and help to make our Big Wednesdays even Bigger!
The Laing Art Gallery runs drop in art activities and workshops for children and families during the school holidays - known as the Big Wednesdays.
These workshops are generally related to current Laing exhibitions and involve practical activities such as arts and crafts. We are on the look out for volunteers to help facilitate these sessions and to help encourage visitors to take part and have fun!
Tasks will include preparing craft materials, cutting out shapes, photocopying, setting up tables and chairs, and assisting visitors with the arts and crafts activities. There is also the possibility of working with artists or the learning team on other art sessions too!
If you're enthusiastic, confident, interested in arts and crafts and would be free during the summer holidays please let us know. Help make our Big Wednesdays even Bigger!
Could you Volunteer to Help us with some Visitor Research?
The Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums communications team is responsible for the marketing, PR and visitor research in all 12 of our venues. The team require a group of volunteers to support them in carrying out visitor research in all venues.
Hours are flexible and we'd require as little as between half a day and 3 days volunteering in each of the following months - May, August, November, and February. We require volunteers to do both weekdays and weekends. This role would be best if you were IT literate as the survey results will be entered into a computer.
Volunteers should be friendly, approachable, and confident in talking to people and gathering surveys. Basic training will be provided and this could be a good opportunity if you want to gain confidence or learn some research skills.
If you're interested, let us know!
Are you creative?
Are you aged between 13 - 19?
Do you have the ideas, enthusiasm or skills to make our project the best it can be?
If you answered yes to all of the above ... Come and join CultuRISE, and be a part the new World Culture Carnival. Using your enthusiasm, ideas and energy we want to create the most colourful, creative and friendly event for the summer of 2012
You will get new skills, training, access to professionals and an opportunity to show your capability, using your own knowledge and skills to help deliver the carnival.
We will create a role to suit your own interests and needs.
CultuRISE is part of NE-Generation, the North East programme funded by the Legacy Trust UK an independent charity set up to promote a sporting and cultural legacy, inspired by London 2012.
TO FIND OUT MORE & JOIN OUR TEAM, CONTACT SOPHIE:
Text: 07969 152 302
Visit our website: www.journeysofdiscovery.org.uk
Email: sophierobinson@twmuseums.org.uk
Come along on Wednesday nights where we meet at Dance City, 5pm - 7pm.
How to Apply
If your volunteer role requires you to work directly with children, young people or vulnerable adults, we will need you to apply for a Criminal Records Bureau Standard Disclosure Certificate.
If you would like to apply for any of the above roles please contact the Volunteer Team stating which role(s) you are interested in.
Volunteering@twmuseums.org.uk or at Discovery Museum, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
Opportunities Elsewhere in the North East
Volunteer Guides Needed for the Victoria Tunnel
The Victoria Tunnel was built in the 1830s to carry coal under the streets of Newcastle to staiths on the quayside. In 1939 it was opened as an air-raid shelter for Newcastle residents and is now open to the public for guided tours.
The Ouseburn Trust who oerate a programme of five guided tours each week within a 700 metres stretch of the Victoria Tunnel, is looking for volunteers to become tour guides.
Volunteers will undergo a comprehensive induction and training programme and will be supported by the existing team of guides. Volunteers are fully reimbursed for travel and any other incidental expenses.
Volunteers should: be passionate about heritage and the history of the North East; have experience of working with people; have excellent communication and organisational skills; be able to attend an occasional evening tour (finishing at 8.30pm) and occasionally at weekends; have the the enthusiasm and ability to work as part of a team.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please call Clive Goodwin on 0191 2616596 or email clive.goodwin@ouseburntrust.org.uk