Collections Volunteer

Central Collections Volunteer, Winchester

Number of Opportunities:

Various

Location:

Chilcomb House, Winchester

Commitment:

(Flexibility Available – We’ll be happy to discuss irregular or volunteering at certain time in the year to work around you)

Opportunity Lead:

Ross Turle, Collections Access Manager

Volunteer Leadership:

Optional: Potential to mentor and guide younger volunteers

Are you interested in looking after Hampshire’s history and getting hands-on experience with collections!

As collections volunteer you will have the opportunity to support our vital work of changing lives, through culture by working with our collections. You could find yourself working with our specialist collections team to document, categories and coordinate our collections using specialist tools. Using your training in collections care you may find yourself caring for our collections in line with venue and trust-wide collection management plans. Full training for all aspects of the role will be provided.

What to expect :

Our volunteer roles are designed to be tailored around you, your interests and your skills. Some of the things you could be up to include:

  • Working with our collections management team to catalogue, transcribe and coordinate our collections using our specialist system (MODS).
  • Work with our collections management team to monitor and care for our varied collections across a specialist area or generally across all disciplines.
  • Working with the venue manager, in line with the venue’s collections care plan, to conduct collections care activities on exhibitions within the venue.
  • Guide, mentor and support other volunteers (younger and neurodiverse) to develop, grow and learn alongside the venue team.

This is of course not exhaustive as your volunteering will evolve around you and your skillsets. Full training, guidance and support will be provided. 

Skills and Experience :

Ideally, to be comfortable in this volunteer role we think you will need to have:

  • An appreciation and awareness of the delicate nature of our collections – Essential.
  • An ability to comply with clear instructions and health and safety requirements – Essential.
  • You must be comfortable with manual and often physical activities.
  • Any existing knowledge or experience is hugely beneficial.

As a result of volunteering in this role you will get:

  • Experience in working with collections and exposure to behind the scenes of cultural management.
  • The chance to work with and handle our historic cultural collection of nearly 2 million objects.
  • Training in collections care and object handling
  • A variety of volunteer benefits including free access to all HCT venues Looking to get stuck into something practical? Use your hands-on skills to make a huge impact on culture!
  • Full training for all aspects of the role will be provided.

Full training for all aspects of the role will be provided.

 Expectations:

We expect professionalism from all who are representatives of Hampshire Cultural Trust. Whilst conducting your role or any activity that may be considered to represent the Trust, you are expected to uphold our values and standards, working in alignment with our policies and expectations of conduct.

Values:

Our values are very important to us, and we expect all volunteers, staff, and everyone we work with to abide by these when representing HCT and working with us:

A person with arms up in the airDescription automatically generated 

 

We have the courage to aim high and think differently

A white light bulb on a purple backgroundDescription automatically generated 

 

We are imaginative, resourceful and flexible in what we do and how we do it

A star with a purple backgroundDescription automatically generated 

 

We aspire to the highest standards in everything we do

A white line on a purple backgroundDescription automatically generated 

 

We are all responsible for the success of the trust, as individuals and together

A logo of a beeDescription automatically generated 

 

Through working collaboratively, we inspire our people to make their best contribution, share knowledge and celebrate our achievements

A white handshake on a purple backgroundDescription automatically generated 

 

We are considerate, respectful and understand each other’s similarities and differences

 

We are committed to promoting equity, inclusion and diversity and a culture that actively values difference.  We recognise that people from different backgrounds and experiences can enhance the way we perform and work. We aim to be inclusive, valuing, and respectful of diversity, developing the ability to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve and seeks to engage.