JORVIK Viking Festival Family Event Volunteers
What is the JORVIK Viking Festival?
Organised by York Archaeology, the JORVIK Viking Festival is an annual celebration of York’s Viking heritage with events across the city centre. A program of expert talks, reenactments, family events, feasts, fairs and more has attracted visitors to York from across the world for over forty years.
What Do Family Event Volunteers Do?
Family Event volunteers get involved at our Festival events aimed at a family audience, helping our interactive staff support a range of family-friendly activities themed around Viking crafts, history and archaeology. Volunteers also have the option to support elsewhere in the Festival, such as stewarding or on our information hubs.
Where Will I Be Volunteering?
All volunteering takes place at York Archaeology’s city centre attractions as well as partner and pop-up venues in York City Centre. Some volunteering takes place outdoors or in unheated venues, so applicants should be comfortable volunteering in an outdoor environment in winter. Branded jackets and fleeces will be provided.
Who Does the Role Suit?
This is an ideal role for anyone who would like to gain experience in, or who is interested in family events or informal learning in a heritage event environment. No historic knowledge, events experience or crafting ability is needed - full training will be provided and information communicated ahead of the festival. Volunteers will be able to offer an enthusiastic and friendly reception to welcome and engage visitors of all ages, and enjoy delivering activities for children in a fast-paced and active environment.
Induction, Training & Support
To ensure the delivery of safe and legally compliant events some training is required of all volunteers.
Training materials are provided where possible in video format to allow volunteers to learn at their own pace. All volunteers will be invited to attend a remote or in-person welcome and briefing session. Recorded briefings will be provided to those unable to attend.
Inductions to our attractions are offered ahead of the Festival where possible, giving an opportunity to become familiar with our sites and to meet staff and other volunteers.
Support day to day will be given by the Volunteering Team, Events Team and Site Managers.
What Will I Gain From Volunteering?
Meet new people : You will be part of a friendly team of volunteers and staff at the Viking Festival, which each year attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world to York.
Contribute to the work of York Archaeology : As an educational charity, our volunteers help us engage visitors in our attractions and events with the history and archaeology of York and enhance visitor experiences.
Be part of a unique event : JORVIK Viking Festival is one of the largest and longest-running events of its kind in Europe. Volunteers get involved on our visitor welcome and family craft stands to help and help us engage people with the full programme of reenactment, family events, expert talks and more taking place through the week of the JORVIK Viking Festival.
Learn something new : Gain hands-on experience of events, festivals and customer engagement in a heritage setting.
Hours & Involvement
A flexible rota is offered for volunteers to sign up to the sessions they wish to get involved at, with sessions typically running between 2-3 hours over our events at the Viking Festival, which will run from 8th-14th February 2027.
Uniform
We ask volunteers to wear warm clothing suitable for outdoor activities. Smart casual clothing such as jeans and smart trainers are welcome, we just ask you to avoid some items of clothing such as ripped jeans and band t-shirts. Branded jackets or fleeces and volunteer lanyards will also be provided to you to identify you as part of the Festival team.
Some family crafting activities will involve materials which may be messy - we will advise you on these so you are able to come in clothes you are comfortable getting dirty, as well as providing protective wear like gloves or aprons.
Support & Assistance
We are committed to offering accessible roles and encourage applicants to let us know if they have any support or access amendments they would like to discuss.
All volunteers are able to reclaim travel expenses up to £10.00 a day. Further information can be found in our Volunteer Expenses Policy.
Contact
York Archaeology is committed to reflecting the diversity of our audiences and reducing barriers to volunteering. If you are interested in volunteering but have questions, including about support or access needs, that you’d like to ask before applying please contact our friendly volunteering team by emailing volunteer@yorkat.co.uk or calling 01904 952320.
