Volunteering at Ironbridge

We are lucky to have lots of wonderful volunteers supporting our Museum, and we’d love you to join the teams and help us tell our world-changing story.

It’s easy to get involved and you can give minutes, hours or days as a Volunteer and still make an enormous difference…

Meet new people, make new friends
Improve your skills or learn brand new ones
Give your time and share your passion

Take a look where you can volunteer, or apply now with our application form.

If you want to find out more you can always call 01952 601037 or email volunteering@ironbridge.org.uk.

What age do I have to be?

We work with volunteers aged from 16 upwards.

How much time do I have to give?

It’s up to you. It might be once a week or more, once or twice a month, whatever suits you and in agreement with your place of volunteering. Much depends on the site, the season and opening times, which vary. Some volunteers help out occasionally during the year.

How often do tours take place?

This varies according to the site and time of year. For example, at Broseley Pipeworks there are timed tours daily at 1.30 and 3.00 in the season (May to October).

How will I know what to say?

You won’t be on your own when you get started. We will provide all the information you need to do your role.

Do I have to bring my own costume?

No, our Wardrobe Department will provide a costume for you.

I’m really interested in local history but afraid I don’t know all the facts.

You won’t be on your own when you start, and all the training and information you’ll need will be provided.

I don’t have my own transport – is any available?

Public Transport is limited in the Ironbridge Gorge, so having your own vehicle is a distinct advantage unless you live in the immediate vicinity.

Do you pay volunteer expenses?

We are unable to pay travel expenses but can offer meal vouchers at the main sites with catering outlets if you are volunteering all day.

My son/daughter has some learning support needs – can they volunteer?

Almost always yes! We’d suggest you all come in together so we can talk through the possibilities, but we have a good track record of working well with Volunteers with support needs.

If I volunteer for the Museum, can it lead to a job there?

You’ll certainly be in the right place to hear about upcoming vacancies, and you could pick up some of the skills needed – but we can’t promise you’ll always be successful.

Please download our Volunteer Application Form (Word document).

You'll need to complete all sections so that we can process your application to become a volunteer at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.

All information will be held by the Trust and will remain confidential.

Please return to:
Volunteer Coordinator
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
Coalbrookdale
Telford
Shropshire
TF8 7DQ

Feel free to get in touch to find out more

Call 01952 601037

Email volunteering@ironbridge.org.uk.

Corporate Volunteering is a great way to build teams, deliver on your CSR targets and for your colleagues to learn new skills and have lots of fun.

Employer Supported Volunteering allows for groups of employees to support the charitable work of the Trust by helping deliver larger projects and supporting activities.

Each project is different and can be matched to your needs and objectives. Activities can either be physical or desk based, indoor or outdoors but are always fun and rewarding.

We welcome groups of any size and for any duration, from half a day to a regular commitment over the year. Full operational and administrative support will be given throughout the project, including risk assessments and all health and safety training.

In the past Corporate Volunteers have helped us:

Catalogue our costume collection
Create a new sensory garden at Coalport
Steward events
Test a new App
Build a new greenhouse

For more information about Corporate Volunteers, please get in touch with the Volunteer Coordinator on 01952 601 037.

Corporate Membership Scheme

You can also help out by joining our Business Club, where your business will not only enjoy the status and prestige of being associated with one of the largest independent museums in the world but you will receive a range of exclusive benefits and fantastic offers. Click here for more details.

If you are another museum

Volunteers are a vital resource for many museums. Employer Supported Volunteers in Museums have been so useful to the Ironbridge Gorge Museums that we have produced a useful toolkit aimed to encourage Museums and Heritage Sites to work with their local business community through volunteering. To help you on this journey download the toolkit here.

Hayley is one of our costumed demonstrators who volunteers in the cottages.

She was very hesitant when she first came to us two years ago, but loves learning about and sharing the history of the area, and enjoys dressing up.

She tells about her journey:

“When I first started I was shy with the visitors, and I was very quiet. But since I started coming out of my shell I have more confidence. I like making the visitors laugh. I enjoy meeting different people and learning to do rag rugs. On Wednesdays we toast some crumpets on the fire. We call them Pikelets.”

Sheila volunteers once a fortnight with the Curatorial Team and also weekly with the Archaeology team.

Here she is in the warehouse (where some of the artefacts in the Museum collection are stored) sorting old coins according to the monarchs on them.

She describes what it has been like since she began volunteering five years ago:

“It’s all sorts of cleaning up and sorting out, photographing and recording. It’s surprising what interesting things you can find, actually.

It’s quite horrendous when you find things here that you recognise from your childhood,” She laughs, “That’s a bit of a shock to the system!”

Watch this quick video and meet Paul who volunteers at Blists Hill Victorian Town as a gardener.

He looks after the pleasure gardens and all the other ornamental planting around the site.

in this quick video you will meet Thelma who is a Volunteer Guide at Rosehill House.

Thelma helps bring to life the story of how members of the Darby family lived there hundreds of years ago.

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Volunteering at Ironbridge