Museums Partnership Reading (The MERL & Reading Museum)

Community Engagement Volunteer - High Street Heritage Action Zone

Host Museum: Volunteering for Reading Museum

Why we want you:

Museums Partnership Reading is a partner organisation in the High Street Heritage Action Zone programme, a four-year programme funded by Historic England.
Reading was selected as one of 68 areas in England to receive a share of the fund.
As a result, Reading Borough Council has been awarded £806,500 to transform the high streets in three conservation areas in the town centre; the East end of Oxford Road, St Mary’s Butts & Castle Street and Market Place & London Street.

The HSHAZ programme has three complementary strands; physical interventions to restore and repair building and improve the public realm, a programme of cultural activities to celebrate the high streets and their importance to local communities, and community engagement which give local people a key role in deciding what work they want to see happening on their high streets.

We are looking for a team of six volunteers who can help us with this community engagement strand.

More information about the project is available at www.reading.gov.uk/hshaz

What you will be doing:

Starting in March the first part of the project, volunteers will be involved with the evaluation stage of our Cultural Pilot Project ‘Re-imaging the high street through your stories’. This will include:

• Working with Sarah Goad (the Community Engagement & Cultural Officer) and the University of Reading research team to plan methods for and then deliver the collection of contributor and general public feedback on the pilot project
• Training will be provided by the UoR team, with opportunities to work alongside the research team before working independently. (All location work will be done in pairs)
• Depending on pandemic restrictions, this could involve in-person survey and collecting feedback along the Oxford Road, or virtual engagement via video calls or phone calls. You may also be asked to send emails on behalf of the project, to collect feedback and circulate online surveys
• There will also be online meetings with the evaluation teams to feedback about the process and exchange ideas, as well as report back on feedback
• The work that you do to support the evaluation stages will help to inform the end of project report that we will send to our funders, Historic England

After this pilot stage, further roles will include:

• • Working alongside the Community Engagement & Cultural Officer and the Conservation Officer, to support engagement work for the physical improvement strand of the programme
  • Helping to establish links with commercial/cultural and community groups to help foster engagement and build new relationships
  • Supporting community research, including: face to face interviews, survey collecting, evaluation, delivery of communications and online engagement support
  • Helping to empower local residents within the communities to take an active role in their town’s development
  • Assisting with the delivery of consultation sessions/workshops with the community
  • Social media planning and digital engagement support

This role will suit you if you are:

• Able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Interested in local history and heritage
• Enjoy meeting new people
• Interested in helping give the community a voice
• Confident approaching and engaging strangers
• Sympathetic, polite and an interested listener
• Able to learn and explain clearly project information, aims and objectives
• Passionate about Reading and it’s communities
  
  

*We are particularly interested in recruiting volunteers who live in or work with the communities in the three HSHAZ zones we are working in.

What you will gain in return:

• Training at the beginning and throughout your role
• Become part of a friendly team
• Learn more about the history, heritage and communities of Reading
• Contribute to the development of the HSHAZ project
• Develop your community engagement and research skills
• Gain new skills and experiences for your CV

How much time will it take up?
Successful community engagement relies on building good relationships and trust in return.

For this reason, we ideally need volunteers who can commit for a significant period of the project over the 3 year period 2021-2024 so that they can establish familiar positions within the communities.

We are ideally looking for volunteers who can commit at least 1-2 hours a week.

However, we can adapt the roles to suit commitments and preference, and if you would prefer a less-involved role, you will be able to support with tasks such as survey collecting and communications distribution on a more ad-hoc basis.

Who does the role report to? Community Engagement & Cultural Officer - Sarah.Goad@reading.gov.uk

To apply

If you do not already volunteer for Museums Partnership Reading:

Please complete your volunteer registration form on our volunteering platform Better Impact by Sunday 7th March

The link can be found under https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/explore/volunteer-reading-museum  or follow the link here: http://bttr.im/tqvqp  
*Please ensure you tick ‘Community Engagement Volunteer - HSHAZ’ in your ‘Interests’ section under My profile, when registering.

If you already are an Accepted MPR volunteer: Please tick as explained just above, and update your ‘Additional Info’ section to reflect why you wish to be considered for this role by Sunday 7th March.

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 Sarah Goad and Sheila Fisher (Museum Partnership Reading Volunteer Coordinator) via Zoom (Provisional date: Tuesday 16th March), where you can have an opportunity to tell us about your interests and experience, and ask us some questions.

Once the team has been formed, there will be a kick-off meeting on Monday 22nd March at 11am. The meeting will take between 30 minutes and 1 hour, and we welcome involvement and questions from volunteers.

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

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 (though during the pandemic the numbers may be limited)
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

• Setting up and tidying away activities
• Meeting and greeting families
• Helping with craft activities
• Keeping the water play topped up
• Helping new families to settle in and
  discover all the activities on offer

This role will suit you if you are

• A people person
• Enjoy the outdoors
• Able to work as part of a team
• Enthusiastic, outgoing and polite
• Enjoy working with young children
• Willing to engage with members of the public
• Self-motivated and pro-active
• Have good communication skills

What you will gain in return   

• Meet new people
• Work with a team of museum staff & volunteers
• Experience of working with children
• Gain knowledge of seasonal observations in nature
• Gain ideas on how to encourage free play for children under 5s
  
  

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.

Enthusing members of the public about the museum and collections while we're out and about at community settings and at stalls at large scale events

MERL Visitor Welcome Volunteer

Specific roles to support the Front of House team during the ongoing covid-19 pandemic
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life 

Why we want you 

• You will help our Front of House team to provide an exceptional welcome to reassure visitors returning to us after the Covid-19 lockdown
• You will help support the smooth operation of the front of house area
• You will receive full training on our measures to keep you safe and to minimise risks for our visitors

What you will be doing 

• Greeting all pre-booked museum visitors, and researchers using the library and archives, in a welcoming and friendly manner 
• Helping to inform visitors of our social distancing measures and the ways in which we plan to keep everybody safe 
• Encouraging visitors to make a donation  
• Liaising with the Front of House team to try to accommodate those who drop by and have not pre-booked

You will be based in one of two allocated posts. Locations include courtyard greeter and gallery greeter

Ideally you will stand to greet volunteers, but chairs can be provided if needed.
In milder months you may be asked to welcome visitors in the courtyard, but you will be sheltered from the elements in the courtyard by a gazebo.

A rest break will be arranged mid-shift

What you will gain in return  

• An opportunity to work in a heritage environment 
• The opportunity to assist and communicate with a friendly, diverse audience
• Build on your customer care, service and communication skills
• Being part of a team and developing new contacts 

This role will suit you if you are

• A people person  
• Able to work as part of a team  
• Confident and able to reassure others
• Enthusiastic, outgoing and polite  
• Willing to engage with a variety of people
• Self-motivated and pro-active  
• A good communicator  
• Experienced in a customer-facing role  

How much time will it take up? 
Shifts will be from 9:30* to 13:00 and from 13:00 to 16:30 on days we are open to the public (Tuesday to Sunday).  

*On Saturdays and Sundays, the museum opens the doors at 10am, so please arrive just before 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 here on our volunteering platform Better Impact by Sunday 17th October 2021

*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.

Visitor Welcome Volunteer

Location: Reading Museum

Role description

Why we want you?

You will help our gallery team to provide an exceptional welcome to reassure visitors returning to us after the Covid-19 lockdown. 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?

• Supporting a dedicated and experienced gallery team by welcoming visitors
• Encouraging visitors to make a donation and explaining how their visitor donations will help the service 
• Helping to inform visitors of our social distancing measures and the ways in which we plan to keep everybody safe 
• You will be based either at the museum entrance or in one of the galleries
• Ideally you will stand to greet volunteers, but chairs can be provided if needed
• A rest break will be arranged mid-shift

This role will suit you if you are:

• A people person
• Able to work as part of a team
• Confident, outgoing and polite
• Enthusiastic
• Willing to engage with members of the public
• Self-motivated and pro-active
• Have good communication skills
• Experience in a customer-facing role (such as fund-raising or sales) would be useful, but not essential as full training and support will be given

  What will you get in return?

• Meet a wide range of people

• Develop your communication skills
• Learn more about museum visitors’ services
• Being part of a friendly team and make new friends
• Gain some new skills for your CV

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 by Wednesday 29th September 2021

*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.

Volunteer Researcher - Reading People and Institutions Project

Location: Virtual volunteering for Museums Partnership Reading 

Why we want you 

Do you enjoying finding out about local Reading people and businesses?

We are looking for a team of six volunteers to research people and institutions from Reading found in the Museum of English Rural Life and Reading Museum's collections, producing information that can be added to Wikipedia.

What you will be doing

Objects donated to the museums come with some basic information about the donors, but we want to expand on these details to create short biographies.

We particularly hope to find and explore stories that reflect the diversity of race, age, gender, disability, religion and sexual orientation in the community. You can find examples of basic biographies here: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/merl-collections/search-and-browse/persons-institutions/

We will provide you with a list of people and institutions who are connected to the museum collections to research.
We also encourage you to discover other related people for yourselves, and explore your own interests.

We will deliver some training to help you start your research, and provide tips about top research websites.

This role will suit you if you are

• Able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Interested in local history, persons and institutions
• Enthusiastic, proactive and curious
• Able to explain historic information through excellent, clear writing skills

What you will gain in return  

• Discover more about people and institutions of Reading

• Develop your research skills, learning how to do online research and use local research facilities
• Learn how to add content to Wikipedia

• Gain some new skills for your CV

Who does the role report to?

Maddie Ding, Collections Officer, Museums Partnership Reading madeleine.ding@reading.ac.uk

How much time will it take up? 

We can offer the opportunity to attend an afternoon’s training on selected dates with an official Wikipedian. Alternatively, the basic training and expectations can be outlined through online training with Maddie Ding, our Collections Officer.

Thereafter you would undertake independent research at home, and where possible in library, archive or museum collections, with the aim of the project finishing during the spring of 2021.

We will organise a kick-off meeting and a progress meeting a few weeks into the project, where you can meet fellow volunteers and swap tips on researching during a pandemic.

To apply

Please complete your volunteer registration form on our volunteering platform Better Impact by Sunday 14^th February
The link can be found under https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/explore/volunteer-reading-museum  or follow the link here: http://bttr.im/tqvqp  
*Please ensure you tick ‘Volunteer Researcher - Reading People and Institutions Project’ 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 Maddie Ding (Collections Officer) and Sheila Fisher (Museum Partnership Reading Volunteer Coordinator) via Zoom (Provisional dates: Tuesday 16^th and Wednesday 17^th February), where you can have an opportunity to tell us about your interests and experience, and ask us some questions.

Once the team has been formed, there will be a kick-off meeting on Monday, 22^nd February at 11am. The meeting will take between 30 minutes and 1 hour, and we welcome involvement and questions from volunteers.