Volunteering at Ironbridge

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust owes its very existence to volunteers and volunteering has remained at the heart of the Trust throughout its history.

As a Trust volunteer, you will be part of a large, friendly team of people who share a passion for our magnificent sites, collections, unique history and stories. You will have a chance to learn new skills and share your expertise and knowledge; get to know amazing places and history; receive valuable work experience, training and support; and meet new people and make friends.

We provide high-quality opportunities for everyone to enjoy, explore, value and share our story with our visitors.

So whether you want to pursue a career in heritage, share your expertise, or just want to meet new people and indulge your passion, we want to hear from you.

These are active roles that we're actively looking to fill: Gardener, Internal Auditor, Tar Tunnel Guide, Costumed Site Guide and Costumed Demonstrator but do get in touch as we have other volunteer opportunities available. If you want to find out more you can always call 01952 601037 or email volunteering@ironbridge.org.uk.

If you have queries or questions about volunteering, you might find the answer here:

How much time do I have to give?

There is no minimum time you must give but some roles do benefit from a regular involvement. We have opportunities that are for a few hours a week and continue on an ongoing basis, but we have a range of roles from full-time to one-off events. You can decide with your volunteer supervisor what arrangements suit you and your place of volunteering.

What age do I have to be?

The minimum age for volunteering is 16. There is no upper age limit to volunteering; a volunteer’s ability to complete a task or role will be assessed on an individual basis.

If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must give permission for you to volunteer and you must be supervised by an adult. We cannot always provide supervision so this may restrict younger people to volunteering with their parent or guardian.

Can I claim benefits while volunteering?

Yes, you are free to volunteer while you are receiving benefits as long as the work you do is unpaid, and you meet the rules of your benefit. You can find all the latest information about volunteering and benefits on the GOV.UK website.

What skills & experience do I need?

The majority of our roles do not require any specific skills or experience. The skills and qualities we are looking for are always specified in the role description. If our volunteering roles require you to have a particular skills these will be clearly stated.

What training & support will be given?

Your volunteer supervisor will help to prepare and support you to fulfil your role, training will be different for different roles. All volunteers have a staff member who they can go to for help and support.

You will receive an induction to the Trust and site your are volunteering at so that you are confident in what we are asking you to do.

Can I claim expenses?

Whilst as a volunteer you give your time for free, we do not expect you to be left out-of-pocket for any volunteering activity you carry out on behalf of the Trust. You are able to claim reasonable travel expenses.

Where can I volunteer?

You could volunteer in one of our 10 museum sites across the Ironbridge Gorge.

How will I be kept in touch with?

Most of our museum sites use word of mouth, for example a face to face briefing or one to one chats to keep volunteers and staff informed of what is happening where they volunteer.

A printed and electronic newsletter or important messages will be sent to volunteers and posted on notice-boards to keep volunteers informed and to ask for input on decisions.

How do I contact the Volunteer Team?

You can contact the volunteering team by email or by phone on 01952 601037. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. Please let us know a bit more about yourself, your interests, skills and availability, by completing the form below. We will then contact you to discuss the very latest volunteering opportunities we have available that might meet your needs.

*You may be asked at a later date to complete a further application process.

Please download our Volunteer Enquiry Form (Word document).

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