Get Involved! - In A Range Of Exciting Opportunities
Volunteers contribute to museums and galleries in many different ways, from engaging directly with visitors to working behind the scenes with object displays, family events and collections care teams. They help to provide valuable services that we would not otherwise be able to provide.
About Us
Bradford District is home to some of the most exciting museums and galleries in Yorkshire. From the Baroque splendor of Cartwright Hall Art Gallery to the spectacular building of Keighley’s Cliffe Castle Museum, there is always something new to do or see, and admission is free!
Specialist museums like Bradford Industrial Museum and Bolling Hall Museum and Library bring our District’s history and heritage to life through ever-changing displays.
Fighting to be Heard Exhibition - Cartwright Hall
Explore the intricate beauty of calligraphy through the ages from historical Qur’anic manuscripts to contemporary works from the collections of the British Library and Bradford District Museums and Galleries.
The works of calligraphy in this exhibition have been chosen in collaboration with eight Bradford-based, British South Asian Muslim men who are associated with Tasif Khan Community Boxing Academy.
The exhibition includes a glimpse into the men’s personal stories, the objects they selected and the similarities they have identified between the disciplines of boxing and calligraphy.
Among the most significant objects featured are a fragment of one of the oldest Qur’ans in the British Library’s collection; one of the finest examples of Il-Khanid manuscript illumination (the Ojleitu Qur’an); and one of the oldest dated Urdu texts
Thank you for contributing your skills, energy and time to celebrate the districts culture, in all its forms! Most of all, we hope you have fun, that you experience something new, and that you meet great friends along the way.
About the role:
What you will bring to the team:
Our commitment to you:
Audience Research Visiteers
Across all four museums and galleries
Why does BMG need this research?
Understanding our audiences is integral to enhancing access to the museums and collections. This audience research allows us to get to know who our visitors are, where they come from, and what their motivations for visiting are. We can also learn more about who is not currently visiting the museums. The data in turn provides the structure and direction for future work and allows BMG to respond to what our visitors want and how to attract new audiences
BMG wishes to conduct exit interviews with museum visitors. Within these the opening hours of each museum. There will be shifts available, on weekdays and weekends. We are looking for volunteers to deliver the interviews in an engaging, positive and meaningful way.
What’s in it for you?
• Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team
• Volunteering in a beautiful historic environment
• Meeting people and making new friends
• Improving your communication skills
• Enjoying new experiences
• Great personal satisfaction, since you have the opportunity to make a real
Make a difference to our visitors’ experience
What’s Involved?
volunteers will be expected to conduct exit interviews with members of the public. This will include engaging and proactively approaching visitors
· Information and feedback from visitors will be recorded by the volunteer on paper following a consistent and structured method.
· Volunteers to remain professional and positive in their approach to the market research activity and understand that they may be seen by the public as representing the museums
· Volunteers will be welcomed into the museums and will be expected to conduct the market research activity alongside the Front-of-House team.
· The Volunteer Co-Ordinator will make visits throughout and will be available for support and troubleshooting
· On a day-to-day basis, volunteers to report to Front-of-house staff on arrival and departure, signing in at reception and collecting their lanyard/paperwork.
You will receive an induction necessary to the role including full health and safety. All short-listed applicants will be required to attend a short, informal interview.
This role will suit people who:
Responsible to:
Volunteer Coordinator and museum Front-of-house staff.
Expenes: Travel costs between home and volunteering
When: Tues – Fri 10am – 3pm and Sun 11am – 3pm
Let us know your preferred day/s and museum
Visiteers role
Mill Manager’s House
Bradford Industrial Museum, Eccleshill
We are seeking to recruit a team of volunteer ‘welcomers’ to support visitors at this historic home at the Industrial Museum in Bradford.
What’s in it for you?
• Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team
• Volunteering in a significant heritage site
• Meeting people and making new friends
• Improving your communication skills
• Enjoying new experiences
• Great personal satisfaction, since you have the opportunity to make a real difference to our visitors’ experience
What’s Involved?
Training will be provided to help ease visiteers into their role as well as implementing an intergenerational and cross cultural approach with current volunteers. There will also be scope for volunteers to take on leadership positions such as team leaders and supervisors which we will encourage and support.
You will receive an induction necessary to the role including full health and safety. All short-listed applicants will be required to attend a short, informal interview.
This role will suit people who:
have a friendly and enthusiastic manner and enjoy working with family visitors in particular. This role can sometimes be physically demanding and you may be on your feet all day.
Expenses: Travel costs between home and volunteering place will be offered.
When: Tues – Fri 10am – 3pm and Sun 11am – 3pm Let us know your chosen day/s.
Responsible to:
Volunteer Coordinator and museum Front-of-house staff.
Family Learning Volunteer Role Description
Would you like to support our programmes for families?
We are looking for volunteers to support the museum’s sessions for families who visit us. If you enjoy working with people of all ages, and if you are friendly and reliable, we would love to hear from you.
Volunteer with us and support our family visitors to have an enjoyable and memorable experience in museums. This role will suit volunteers with an interest in education, and an enthusiasm to connect children, families with museums, art, and heritage. Gain hands-on experience working with visitors in a museum environment alongside our friendly Family Learning team.
Responsibilities
You will have the opportunity to volunteer across all four museum sites, including Bolling Hall, Industrial Museum, Cartwright Hall and Cliffe Castle.
Daily responsibilities:
Requirements
This role will suit someone who:
Time commitment
Family visits occur between 10:00 – 16:00 on Tuesday to Sunday when the museums are open our family events run in the school holidays and are delivered 11am to 3pm.
Family Learning Volunteers are required to undergo an induction and be willing to complete a basic DBS check.
Training
Receive training from our Families team on effective communication and health and safety procedures, including safeguarding as well as what make Family Learning different to other kinds of learning experiences.
What you can expect
We offer:
Support provided:
▪ Full induction and training
▪ Ongoing support from supervisors
▪ Travel expenses reimbursed (up to £5 per day of volunteering)
Interested?
To Apply Follow this link http://myimpactpage.com/
Early Years Volunteer Role
Would you like to support our programmes for the early years? We are looking for volunteers to support the museum’s sessions for children up to 5 years old. If you enjoy working with children, and if you are friendly and reliable we would love to hear from you.
Volunteer with us and support our youngest visitors to have an enjoyable and memorable experience in museums. This role will suit volunteers with an interest in early years education, and an enthusiasm to connect children with museums, art, and heritage. Gain hands-on experience working with children in a museum environment alongside our friendly Early Years team.
Responsibilities
You will have the opportunity to volunteer across all four museum sites, including Bolling Hall, Industrial Museum, Cartwright Hall and Cliffe Castle.
Daily responsibilities:
Requirements
This role will suit someone who:
Time commitment
Early years visits occur between 10:00 – 16:00 on Tuesday to Saturday.
Early Years Learning Volunteers are required to undergo an induction and be willing to complete a basic DBS check.
Training
Receive training from our Early Years team on effective communication with young children and health and safety procedures, including safeguarding.
What you can expect
We offer:
Support provided:
▪ Full induction and training
▪ Ongoing support from supervisors
▪ Travel expenses reimbursed (up to £5 per day of volunteering)
Interested
To apply follow this link : http://myimpactpage.com/
Volunteer Blacksmith
Bradford Industrial Museum
Reviving the Blacksmith’s craft in a living setting
A working forge
At Bradford Industrial Museum, we have revived the blacksmith’s craft within its original setting and created a living forge. We demonstrate the blacksmithing skills and techniques that would have been used by the mill blacksmiths, and others like them, the world over.
Bradford Industrial Museum is a living museum, supported by staff and volunteers. The building dates to the mid 1800’s. The museum is local authority run. The museum celebrates blacksmithing and the building’s industrial history. Linking 19th century trade to 21st century, hands-on demonstration. Our dedicated blacksmith volunteers their time to teach the public about the art and history of blacksmithing.
Interested volunteers must be willing to talk and interact with the public and be able to follow safety guidelines.
Principal tasks:
Ensure the forge area is maintained in a clean and safe condition
Maintain adequate stocks of coke and steel
Regularly assess that the selling price of items covers the cost of materials used
Advise museum staff and volunteers of best practice in dealing with visitor queuing at the forge
Develop new 'products' that visitors can purchase in the museum shop
Demonstrate forging and blacksmith techniques to members of the public, especially to children/schools
Prepare estimates for enquires received for bespoke ironwork
Health & Safety
Be fully aware of, and operate, all relevant health & safety requirements.
Responsible for:
Your own safety and those around you
Comply fully with the Health and Safety Policy and procedures of the Industrial Museum and the Health and Safety Officer in conducting occasional risk assessments.
Requirements
A friendly nature who is comfortable with chatting to visitors and educating them on the heritage skill of blacksmithing in general.
Under the general supervision of and reporting to the Volunteer Coordinator and Visitor Services staff, the Blacksmith is responsible for interpreting blacksmithing through explanation as a timed demonstration for public programming, education/group tours and special events.
Hours/Days of Work: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday and Sunday
Maintenance Responsibilities:
Monitor and report all building issues to visitor services staff or the Volunteer Coordinator.
Oversee and implement the cleaning and set up of the forge.
Monitor and coordinate supplies required for daily public and special events programming.
Assist in repair of heritage tools and equipment.
Coordinate appropriate “Made in the Museum” products for sale in the museum shop in conjunction with the Manager of Visitor Services and Business staff.
General Responsibilities
Support museum vision, mission, and programming initiatives.
Support museum initiatives.
Ensure the safety of visitors and staff and protect the site's resources.
Building (forge) set-up, cleaning, and maintenance.
Coordination of all materials required for Blacksmith Forge demonstrations and projects.
Qualifications:
Physical requirements of the position include the ability to lift and carry 20-30lbs, ability to walk and navigate cobble paths and uneven surfaces, ability to work in an environment with air pollutants (pollens, dust, and wood smoke), ability to tolerate exposure to inclement and severe weather.
Ability to communicate and to interpret effectively to large numbers of people of various ages and backgrounds.
Ability to wear historical costumes and adhere to guidelines regarding lanyards, jewelry, safety boots, aprons.
Ability to foster and maintain cooperative working relationships with supervisors, volunteers and other staff.
Contributes to a positive team environment within own department and organisation.
All staff/volunteers will work in a safe manner in accordance with Bradford Council Health and Safety regulations.
Volunteer - Print
Bradford Industrial Museum
What’s Involved?
Volunteering times will be Tuesday to Sunday, 11am – 3pm.
Let us know which day you prefer.
What’s in it for you?
Support provided: ▪ Full induction and training ▪ Ongoing support from supervisors.
▪ Travel expenses reimbursed (up to £5 per day of volunteering)
Or apply via the link http://myimpactpage.com/
Museum Enhancer Role
Bolling Hall Museum
Can you volunteer in the museum on both floors/welcoming visitors /looking after the warm space. Generally, support to the visitor services team of two or three members of staff?
About the volunteer role:
What you will bring to the team:
Our commitment to you: