Cafe Volunteers, Waterworks Museum Hereford
Primary Role – Cafe Volunteer
• This is a visitor facing role that would suit someone who enjoys engaging with the public and creating a friendly and welcoming environment.
Overview
• To be one of a team of volunteers led by the Café Manager who provide refreshments for visitors and volunteers.
• Vacancies for café staff exist for all occasions when the Museum is open to the public. This may be on a Tuesday and/or a on family open day/special event of which there are around 12 every year (on a Sunday or bank holiday). Volunteers may prefer to attend for all or part of an opening (minimum commitment 2 hours).
Responsibilities and Duties
• Preparing and serving hot and cold drinks
• Preparing and serving snacks
• Keeping the serving counter and kitchen preparation areas clean
• Cleaning and clearing away café tables.
Secondary
• By agreement, to assist in the museum shop and/or on the entrance desk.
Personal Qualities
• This would suit someone with a friendly personality, clear communication skills and a willingness to contribute to the overall visitor experience.
Knowledge and Experience
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate is required – training for this will be funded by the museum.
Further information can be obtained from the following email address: volunteering@waterworksmuseum.org.uk
Welcomer and Guide Volunteer, Waterworks Museum Hereford
Primary Role – Welcomer
• This is a visitor facing role that would suit someone who enjoys engaging with the public and creating a friendly and welcoming environment.
Overview
• To act as the initial point of contact between visitors and the museum.
Responsibilities and Duties
• To meet and greet visitors to the museum and provide cover on the reception desk
• To answer any initial queries visitors might have about the museum and its collection.
• To direct visitors to the cafe, shop or entrance desk depending on their requirements.
Secondary roles (E.G, during busy periods or staff shortage)
• To act as a Museum guide (if this is an area of interest)
Personal Qualities
• This would suit someone with a friendly personality, clear communication skills and a willingness to contribute to the overall visitor experience.
Knowledge and Experience
• It is hoped that with training and time a good understanding of the museum and its collection will be obtained.
For more information, please contact volunteering@waterworksmuseum.org.uk
Volunteer Engineer, Waterworks Museum Hereford
Primary Role – Operating and Maintaining Engines and Pumps
- This is a role that would suit someone who enjoys engineering and learning about how things work.
Overview
- To be one of a team of volunteer engineers to work on restoring, maintaining and/or operating the Museum’s collection of engines and pumps.
- Engineers work on all days when the Museum is open to the public. This may be on a Tuesday and/or on a family open day/special event of which there are around 20 every year (on a Sunday or bank holiday). The Museum is usually open 10am-4pm – Volunteer engineers may prefer to attend for all or part of an opening (minimum commitment 2 hours)
Typically, tasks might include:
- Maintain, repair and/or operate the Museum’s engines and pumps
- Contribute ideas about how to explain how and when the engines were originally used
- Answer any queries visitors may have about the machines you are working on
- Work as part of a team of engineers, sharing knowledge and ideas, and being aware of health and safety concerns
Knowledge and Experience
- No prior engineering experience is needed, just an interest in learning. Training will be provided and in time, a good understanding of many of the museum’s exhibits will be obtained
- There will be many opportunities for experienced engineers to apply their knowledge and skills to running and developing the Museum’s collection
Further information can be obtained from volunteering@waterworksmuseum.org.uk
Member of the Volunteer Curatorial Team, Leominster Museum
Member of the Volunteer Curatorial Team, Leominster Museum
PURPOSE OF VOLUNTARY ROLE
To assist, as part of the volunteer team, with the care of the collection of objects in Leominster Museum
MAIN ACTIVITIES/TASKS TO BE SHARED
- Responsibility (in line with applicable policies etc) for:
- the care, recording, display and storage of all items in the Museum’s collection
- bringing up to date any incomplete, out-of-date or non-compliant records
- decisions on acceptance of new material offered to the museum
- disposal of degraded or irrelevant items in the collection
- making recommendations to trustees about appropriate changes to policies and procedures
- Responding to outside enquiries, including carrying out any quick and simple research necessary to provide an answer.
- Reporting to trustee meetings
- Working with other members of the volunteer team on:
- a continuing programme of improvements to the display and interpretation of the Museum’s collection, and on temporary exhibitions
- the preparation of new temporary exhibitions
- the preparation of funding applications, reports etc
SKILLS/INTERESTS NEEDED
- Experience (voluntary or otherwise) in the museum sector would be useful
- Good computer skills, and an understanding of the importance of record keeping in museums
- A willingness to attend external training courses from time to time, with necessary expenses paid
- A willingness to work constructively with other team members on joint projects and planning
TIME COMMITMENT
This can be arranged at the volunteer’s convenience and to fit in with the other members of the team.
Volunteer Organiser, Leominster Museum
Volunteer Organiser, Leominster Museum
PURPOSE OF VOLUNTEER ROLE
- To make visitors and volunteers feel welcome and comfortable in Leominster Museum
- To co-ordinate and support the Museum’s desk volunteers
- To provide inspiration to the team
MAIN ACTIVITIES/TASKS
- Recruit new desk volunteers as needed
- With the input of trustees if necessary, assess new volunteers to find out their skills, experience & needs, and match them to the Museum’s needs
- Arrange (and update) rota for desk volunteers and ensure smooth operation of cover arrangements for any absences
- Carry out induction, and periodic refresher training, of desk volunteers
- Arrange regular cleaning
- Attend Museum trustees’ meetings to ensure good communication between desk volunteers and the trustees.
- Assist Museum trustees as needed with review and updating of volunteering policy and volunteering agreement
- Review and update reception handbook at least once a year and ensure stocks of forms are replenished when needed
SKILLS/INTERESTS NEEDED
- Readiness to gain experience by taking their own shift on the Museum reception desk
- Good communication/listening skills
- Good basic computer skills
- An enthusiastic manner
- Ability to work in a team, and to recognise and refer onwards any issues of wider importance
- Proven ability to make responsible, well organised and recorded decision making
- Management experience, if possible
- Willingness to learn
TRAINING OFFERED
Training will be offered informally in house by past volunteer organisers and Museum trustees. External training may also be available.
TIME COMMITMENT
2-3 hours per week on average during the Museum’s opening season, over and above any time spent on the reception desk.
