One of the major aims of the partnership between The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) and Reading Museum, is to offer volunteering opportunities to the local community to improve wellbeing, connect people to their personal histories and identities, and get to know more about Reading's rich cultural heritage.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation.
We want you to feel part of the team, to have fun, to meet new people and perhaps to gain experience in the workplace, while developing supplementary skills to enhance a CV.
You may wish to apply existing skills and knowledge in an area in which you are already comfortable.
Alternatively, you may wish to try something new, and develop new skills or simply give something back to your local community.
Whatever your reason for volunteering, we are thrilled you are considering joining our volunteer community who work across The MERL and Reading Museum.
To apply to be one of our volunteers, get yourself a cuppa and fill in the application form by following the 'I would like to volunteer' link on the right hand side of this page (or if you're on a smaller screen it will be below this message).
You can browse a complete list of all roles performed by existing Museums Partnership Reading volunteers. Feel free to tick a few that interest you, so that we can let you know in future if a vacancy arises for that role.
When we have a vacancy for a role, it will say *Now recruiting* next to the title of the role.
Please give us as much relevant information as you like, including: how you feel you meet the requirements of the volunteering role, and how you would like to help. On some occasions more volunteers apply for the role than we have opportunity for in the rota. The more we know about you and what you are interested in, the easier it is for us to match you. You are welcome to attach your CV if you wish.
Remember to indicate in the Availability section if specific days of the week or time of day work best around your other commitments
As soon as you are registered, you'll join the waiting list.
When you are happy with your application, please don’t forget to click SUBMIT – otherwise we will never receive the form!
As soon as we are recruiting to that role, we will get in touch with our matches and invite them to an informal interview. This can be over Zoom/ Teams, or in person according to your preference.
If you need any help with the application process, please email VolunteerHQ@reading.ac.uk and we will do our best to help.
Thank you.
*We are lucky enough to receive a high volume of volunteer applications. We will get in touch as soon as we are actively recruiting to a vacancy that matches the information on your form. Sometimes there may be a wait of some months before we can match you to a role, but please be assured we work as fast as we can to give as many people as possible the opportunity to join our volunteer family. We hope you agree it is worth the wait!*
Data collection and processing is in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016, and the Data Protection Act 2018, and in line with our Privacy Policy.
Volunteer Role: Visitor Experience Researcher
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL), Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
Why we want you
You will help visitors complete 5 minute surveys on behalf of the museum on iPads.
The feedback that you will gather will help the wider team continue to improve the visitor experience, and will be used in reports to key funding bodies, from the University of Reading to Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
You will receive full training and a comprehensive introduction to the Museum, its services and facilities.
What you will be doing
Greeting all museum visitors and researchers using the library and archives, in a welcoming and friendly manner
Approaching visitors to ask them about their experience at The MERL
Summarise any feedback that requires immediate action and report it to a member of staff to help us continue to improve the visitor experience
This role will suit you if you are
Confident and keen to approach and engage with visitors of all ages
Enthusiastic and polite
Self-motivated and pro-active
A good communicator
Able to work as part of a team
An opportunity to learn about visitor motivations in a heritage environment
The opportunity to assist and communicate with a friendly, diverse audience
Build your customer care, service and communication skills
Being part of a team and developing new contacts
How much time will it take up?
You can choose from our suggested shift times of 11am-2pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.
This role is available on a rota, and you may like to sign up to volunteer once a week.
This can be flexible, as volunteers will help throughout the month.
You are welcome to take a break to eat lunch
Who does the role report to?
Angela Brown - Retail & Visitor Services Supervisor
To apply
Please complete your volunteer registration form here on our volunteering platform.
If you are using a mobile or tablet, once you click ‘Fill in an Application’, look out for the suggestion ‘It looks like you are on a mobile device. For a better experience on smart phones, go to Mobile Application Form’ and click on the link it suggests.
*Please ensure you tick ‘MERL Visitor Experience Researcher’ in your ‘Interests’ section under My profile, when registering.
Matching to the role
If we think you are a match for this role, we will invite you to a 30-minute informal interview with a member of the team and Sheila Fisher (Museum Partnership Reading Volunteer Coordinator) via Zoom, where you can have an opportunity to tell us about your interests and experience, and ask us some questions.
MERL Visitor Welcome Volunteer
Supporting the Front of House team in the Visitor Welcome area
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life
Why we want you
What you will be doing
Ideally you will stand to greet volunteers, but chairs can be provided if needed.
A rest break will be arranged mid-shift
What you will gain in return
This role will suit you if you are
How much time will it take up?
Shifts will be from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 13:00 to 16:00 on days we are open to the public (Tuesday to Sunday).
On Saturdays and Sundays, the museum opens the doors at 10am.
This role is available on a rota, and you may like to sign up to volunteer once a week.
This can be flexible, as volunteers will help throughout the month.
To apply
Please complete your volunteer registration form on our volunteering platform.
If you are using a mobile or tablet, once you click ‘Fill in an Application’, look out for the suggestion ‘It looks like you are on a mobile device. For a better experience on smart phones, go to Mobile Application Form’ and click on the link it suggests.
*Please ensure you tick ‘MERL Visitor Welcome Volunteer’ in your ‘Interests’ section under My profile, when registering.
Matching to the role
If we think you are a match for this role, we will invite you to a 30-minute informal interview with a member of the team and Sheila Fisher (Museum Partnership Reading Volunteer Coordinator) via Zoom, where you can have an opportunity to tell us about your interests and experience, and ask us some questions.
We love to hear regularly from our younger supporters to make sure that we are offering exhibitions and experiences that are of interest across the generations.
“The Youth Panel is a small commitment for such a huge personal gain.
Something I love is that the leaders of the panel and the people at the museums that we work with treat me like an adult, they value my opinion and I feel empowered to make changes that will engage youth in our local history.”
Youth Panel member
Our Youth Panel, for young people aged 14 – 18, offers collective work experience opportunities across The MERL and Reading Museum as part of Museums Partnership Reading’s youth programme. We meet monthly to work on a variety of exciting projects which are great for developing a range of transferable skills. Our panel members influence current projects and programming and are change-makers within Reading’s culture and heritage sector.
The Museum of English Rural Life and Reading Museum are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our Youth Panel.
As a member you will:
Meetings will take place on the third Thursday of the month, online or in person, usually from 4:30 to 6pm.
We also will have a range of workshops forming part of our public and learning programmes this term, inspired by the conversations we have had with you during the Youth Manifesto project this year. We were particularly struck by your points about the need for the museums to offer age-appropriate activities and something different for teenage audiences.
Our Youth Panel have been working with us on The ‘Digital Dig’ with the Royal Horticultural Society. This project aimed to unlock the stories of more than 28,000 nursery catalogues held by the RHS. The catalogues offer a unique window into a forgotten network of specialised growers that sold plants before garden centres were a thing. More than this, though, they are a window into all kinds of histories – of graphic design, printing techniques, trends in foods and flowers, sustainable growing practices… the list goes on. Reading was once home to around 50 nurseries, ranging from the giant Suttons to specialists like rose-growers E.J.Hicks and iris experts Linnegar Sidney. The RHS invited the MERL Youth Panel to take these catalogues and the stories they tell as inspiration for a digital project providing support and specialist digital skills training to help make it a reality.
RECENT PROJECTS INCLUDE:
For more information about the Youth Panel, please contact merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Please feel free to sign up for the meetings that you can attend, and we will send you details about the location of the meeting and the agenda each month.
To do so, scroll down to the dates below and click on the 'Sign up' button.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Museums on Wheels Volunteer
Location: Volunteering at our Museums on Wheels roadshow at locations in and around Reading such as large scale public festivals and community venues like libraries
Why we want you:
‘Museums on Wheels’ forms part of our museum outreach programme. We take the Museums Partnership Reading roadshow stall out to events in and around Reading, and also smaller scale in libraries and community venues.
We aim to enthuse members of the public about the museum and collections while we're out and about.
We bring items from our handling collection, a themed make and take, and we collect feedback to discover what might tempt visitors back into our free and fascinating venues.
In 2023 our roadshow will be particularly focussing on our environmental impact and responsibility through a creative environmental campaign.
You can find out more about ‘Our Green Stories’ on The MERL and Reading Museum ‘Our Green Stories’ blogs
What you will be doing:
Activity will take place throughout 2023.
Community venue dates are TBC, but we will attend the following public festivals:
Saturday 13th May 2023 - Community Festival - Whiteknights campus, University of Reading
Saturday 10th June 2023 WaterFest - Forbury Gardens
Sunday 11th June 2023 - Whitley Parade
Sunday 25th June 2023 - East Reading Festival
Saturday 2nd September 2023 – Love Unites – Reading Pride
This role will suit you if you are able to:
What you will gain in return:
How much time will it take up?
You will form part of a team and as such there is no minimum expectation of the amount of time, but please note the dates of planned events, and activity will begin no earlier than April 2023. Shifts will be available to sign up for on our volunteering platform and on average volunteers attend for up to 5 hours, with breaks.
Who does the role report to?
Members of Reading Museum and The MERL take turns in leading the stall.
You will find out in advance who will be running the stall for each event.
To apply
New prospective volunteers - If you are not already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please register on our volunteering platform, ensuring you tick the box next to ‘Museums on Wheels’ in your ‘Interests’ before Friday 24th February 2023.
Existing volunteers - If you are already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please log in to the volunteering platform, click on My Profile, select the ‘Interests’ section, and ensure you tick the box next to ‘Museums on Wheels’ in your ‘Interests’ before Friday 24th February 2023.
Matching to the Role
To help us select our volunteers, we will look through all the application forms of those interested, and we will invite a limited number of those who most closely match our ideal requirements to an informal interview to discuss the role.
An outdoor role, helping to keep the Abbey Quarter interpretation signs clean and the area free of litter.
An outdoor role, sharing stories about Reading's great and the good to pre-booked groups. Normally on a Saturday, unless by special arrangement.
Helping the University Art Collections Curatorial team to prepare for forthcoming exhibitions or research.
The MERL
Unearthing the stories behind the artists and the works in the Reading Museum art collection, helping the Curator prepare for forthcoming exhibitions.
Supporting museum projects, on an occasional basis, either out and about in the community, or with pre-booked groups such as schools and uniformed groups, under the supervision of a member of staff.
Helping The MERL Curatorial team to catalogue objects in the rural life collections.
The MERL
Helping the Reading Museum Curatorial team to catalogue a huge variety of objects in store at the off-site collections facility.
Helping The MERL Curatorial team to research into items in our rural life collection.
The MERL
Helping the Reading Museum Curatorial team to research into items in our collection.
Reading Museum
Conservation and Preservation Volunteer – Stitch in Time Project
A rare opportunity to volunteer behind the scenes with our archives!
Location:
The MERL Reading Room on Mondays from 10am to 12:30pm for up to 12 weeks.
Working in the Reading Room on Monday mornings, you will undertake basic but important preservation tasks on the selected material. This may include:
Shoes are a form of book enclosure that supports the textblock. In larger format books, the weight of the textblock can cause it to slump forward, creating strain on the joints and the sewing structure and accelerating deterioration. This, along with handling, is the main damage factor in books. A shoe protects the sides of the book as well as supporting the weight of the textblock.
Special Access/ allergy trigger considerations
This role includes
As you will be working as a team, we will be able to distribute tasks within the team and adapt your tasks to promote as full participation in this role as possible.
This role will suit you if you are
Victoria Stevens ACR, Library and Archive Conservator, based at The MERL.
How much time will it take up?
The sessions will be held on a Monday morning between 10am and 12.30pm.
Each cohort will last 12 weeks maximum and will be dependent on material availability.
You will get the most out of the placement if you are able to attend as many sessions as possible during that time. However, we realize that you may have some prior commitments/ appointments in the 12 week period.
Please complete your volunteer registration form on our volunteering platform Better Impact by Sunday 23rd April 2023.
Please ensure you tick ‘Conservation and preservation volunteer – Stitch in Time project’ in your ‘Interests’ section under My Profile, when registering.
Existing volunteers - If you are already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please log in to the volunteering platform, click on My Profile, select the ‘Interests’ section, and ensure you tick the box next to ‘Conservation and preservation volunteer – Stitch in Time project’ by Sunday 23rd April 2023.
We are fortunate to have perennial interest from prospective volunteers hoping to volunteer with our archives for fascinating projects such as this, so we will select 4 volunteers to help in our second 12 week cohort.
To allow as many people as possible to participate, we are likely to open this role up to new prospective volunteers for the next cohort.
We will let you know by Wednesday 3rd May if we will be inviting you to join the second cohort.
The second cohort’s first meeting will take place on Monday 15th May where you will be given more detailed guidance and initial training.
Wearing a replica historic costume and talking to visitors at public events and tours can help people better understand famous Reading residents from various points in its fascinating history.
Combine your love of storytelling, interest in history, all love of all new media to help us share those stories far and wide.
Event volunteers help us to deliver a programme of fun, friendly and fabulous special events all year, either at the Museums or out and about in the community.
Location: Reading Museum and Reading Abbey Quarter; The Museum of English Rural Life on Redlands Road, Reading
For example on 19th June 2021 we are looking for Event Stewards to help at Waterfest
https://www.readingabbeyquarter.org.uk/visit/2021-900th-abbey-anniversary
Events Volunteer
Why we want you
You will help our Visitor Welcome team to provide an exceptional welcome during a wide range of public events
What you will be doing
What you will gain in return
This role will suit you if you are
How much time will it take up?
This role is very flexible and has no regular time commitment, although events are often held at weekends or evenings. The Event programme is planned several months in advance, so we are able to give plenty of notice.
To apply
Please complete your volunteer registration form here on our volunteering platform Better Impact. There is no set deadline for applying, because events take place throughout the year and there are plenty of opportunities to help out at our events.
*Please ensure you tick ‘Events Volunteer’ in your ‘Interests’ section under My profile, when registering. This will alert us to the fact that you are keen to help in this area.
Matching to the role
If we think you are a match for this role, we will invite you to a 30-minute informal interview with a member of the team and Sheila Fisher (Museum Partnership Reading Volunteer Coordinator) via Zoom, where you can have an opportunity to tell us about your interests and experience, and ask us some questions.
Friday Fledglings Volunteer at The MERL
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life, 6 Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
Volunteer Shift:
Friday mornings during normal term times from 9.15am-12noon
Friday Fledglings does not run during local school holidays.
Why we want you
Our highly popular outdoor toddler sessions ‘Friday Fledglings’ attract an average of 50 children each week.
Friday Fledglings is led by Charlotte, a local teacher and Level 3 Forest Leader.
Sessions take their inspiration from nature, and the themes and collections of the museum, and focus on outdoor play and exploration of the natural environment. Each session involves story-telling, craft activities and singing.
You will become part of the team to help ensure the smooth running of sessions.
What you will be doing
This role will suit you if you are
What you will gain in return
How much time will it take up?
You will join a team of volunteers on a Friday morning during normal term times from 9.15am-12noon. Friday Fledglings does not run during local school holidays.
This includes set up and take down time. Visitors attend between 10 and 11.30am.
What do I need to wear?
Please note that these sessions take place outside in The MERL garden, and run throughout the year, in all weathers! During the ongoing pandemic, the entire session will remain outdoors, no matter what the weather does! Please bring suitable clothing.
Who will I report to?
The overall supervisor of the role is Danielle Eade (Public Programmes Manager) d.k.eade@reading.ac.uk
The sessions are led by Charlotte and Fong who will allocate tasks and support you on the day.
Help us introduce our group visitors to our fascinating collection with an introduction to the galleries, and share personal stories of the objects that mean most to you.
The MERL
Supporting the Curatorial team to catalogue the wonderful collection of artwork that formed the Ladybird books
The MERL
Supporting the team to deliver fun and engaging sessions about rural life for all ages and abilities, including reminiscence work with younger or older people with dementia, and with school groups.
The MERL
Helping to increase the public accessibility of a wide range of books, publications and ephemera held by the University of Reading
The MERL
Object Encounters Volunteer
Location: Volunteering at The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL)
Why we want you:
If you have always wanted to get your hands on museum objects, why not go beyond the cases and become an object handling volunteer.
You will attend training to understand how to help visitors handle museum objects correctly, and show them what they can learn about our objects by holding them and looking closely. We’re looking for enthusiastic people with an interest in our collections.
What you will be doing:
You will facilitate object handling within the museum; either through the object handling trolley in museum galleries or by supporting family and school groups.
Each two hour session is held in one of the museum galleries, to enhance the visitor experience, and you will supervise visitors who will be handling genuine items from our collections.
This role will suit you if you are able to:
What you will gain in return:
How much time will it take up?
Volunteers can sign up on the volunteering platform for as many 2 hour shifts as they choose on a Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, or Sun
Training for the role is overseen by Phillippa Heath, Learning & Engagement Manager p.heath2@reading.ac.uk and supported by Volunteer Coordinator sheila.fisher@reading.ac.uk
To apply
New prospective volunteers - If you are not already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please register on our volunteering platform, ensuring you tick the box next to ‘Object Handling Session Volunteer’ in your ‘Interests’ before Tuesday 3rd January.
Existing volunteers - If you are already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please log in to the volunteering platform, click on My Profile, select the ‘Interests’ section, and ensure you tick the box next to ‘Object Handling Session Volunteer’ before Tuesday 3rd January.
Matching to the Role
To help us select our volunteers, we will look through all the application/ registration forms of those interested, and we will invite a limited number of those who most closely match our ideal requirements to a training session on Thursday January 12th from 10am to 12pm
Sessions will begin to be offered to visitors from February 2023.
‘Our Green Stories’ Ambassadors
Location:
Volunteering at The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) and Reading Museum and locations in and around Reading
Activity will take place between January and September 2023.
Why we want you:
We are looking for volunteers to join a team of ‘Our Green Stories’ (OGS) Ambassadors to deliver special activity as Museums Partnership Reading explores our environmental impact and responsibility through a creative environmental campaign.
You will learn about the themes and collections we're exploring and will encourage the public to engage and participate in the campaign in different ways.
You can find out more about ‘Our Green Stories’ campaign on The MERL and Reading Museum blogs.
What you will be doing:
To get the most out of this role, we’ll ask you to:
Activities could include:
The consultation activity pictured above helps visitors consider which UN Sustainable Development Goals are of most concern and which they feel they can do most about.
In addition, if you wish, you could:
The role is flexible, and you can focus on activities you are most interested in, and we'd be interested in hearing your ideas for engaging the public with Our Green Stories.
This role will suit you if you are able to:
What you will gain in return:
And if you wish:
How much time will it take up?
The events and consultations will take place at different times, including weekends and possibly evenings.
You would form part of a team and as such there is no minimum expectation of the amount of time, but something like once a fortnight might be a guideline.
Shifts will be available to sign up for on our volunteering platform.
Who does the role report to?
Head of Marketing and Visitor Experience, The MERL, Alison Hilton a.c.hilton@reading.ac.uk but you are likely to work with a number of different members of staff.
How to apply
New prospective volunteers - If you are not already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please register here on our volunteering platform, ensuring you tick the box next to ‘Our Green Stories’ Ambassadors in your ‘Interests’ before Sunday 15th January.
Existing volunteers - If you are already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please log in to the volunteering platform, click on My Profile, select the ‘Interests’ section, and ensure you tick the box next to ‘Our Green Stories’ Ambassadors before Sunday 15th January.
Matching to the Role
To help us select our volunteers, we will look through all the application forms of those interested, and we will invite a limited number of those who most closely match our ideal requirements to an informal interview to discuss the role.
Just a reminder here that activity will take place during January to September 2023.
Help us spread the word about our fantastic museums and collections, delivering pre-prepared Powerpoint presentations to community groups such as the U3A and Probus, at their meetings.
Using your photography skills to help us share pictures of our fabulous events and activities, and of course the buildings and collections too.
Visitor Welcome Volunteer
Supporting the Gallery team at the Visitor Welcome area
Location: Reading Museum
Role description
Why we want you?
You will help our gallery team to provide an exceptional welcome to visitors. You will support staff in welcoming visitors and generating income for the Museum. You will also be helping to complete regular surveys, interviewing visitors about their trip to the Museum
We are looking for confident and friendly individuals who have the skills and personality to promote the museum whilst providing an excellent welcome experience for our visitors.
You will receive full training on our measures to keep you safe and to minimise risks for our visitors during the ongoing pandemic.
What does a Visitor Welcome volunteer do?
This role will suit you if you are:
What will you get in return?
How much time will you need to give?
Shifts will be from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 13:00 to 16:00 on days we are open to the public (Tuesday to Saturday). This role is available on a rota, and you may like to sign up to volunteer once a week. This can be flexible, as volunteers will help throughout the month.
Who does the role report to?
Visitor Services Officer - Lucy.Griffin@reading.gov.uk
To apply
Please complete your volunteer registration form on our volunteering platform Better Impact.
*Please ensure you tick ‘Visitor Welcome Volunteer (RM) in your ‘Interests’ section under My profile, when registering.
Matching to the role
If we think you are a match for this role, we will invite you to a 30-minute informal interview with Sheila Fisher (Museum Partnership Reading Volunteer Coordinator) and a members of the visitor services team via Zoom, where you can have an opportunity to tell us about your interests and experience, and ask us some questions.
Making running and permanent repairs to replica historic costumes, and general support to Costumed Interpreters including helping them to dress in their many layers ready for the public events.
One of the major aims of the partnership between The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) and Reading Museum, is to offer volunteering opportunities to the local community to improve wellbeing, connect people to their personal histories and identities, and get to know more about Reading's rich cultural heritage.