The Museum of Oxford is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of Oxford and its people.
We’re on the lookout for people to help us as we welcome people into their Museum of Oxford. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and aim to provide rewarding and enriching experiences for all. We offer flexible commitment to suit your schedule: you decide what you would like to give your time towards.
We offer a range of opportunities both inside the Museum space and outside with the wider community; remotely and in-person; public-facing; and behind-the-scenes.
There are many benefits to volunteering with us. As a volunteer you can:
Current opportunities:
- Bloggers
Do you have a question about volunteering for the Museum of Oxford? Have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old do I have to be to volunteer? MOX can accept volunteers who are at least 16 years old. We recognise that younger volunteers may need additional support and supervision to ensure safety and build confidence in the role and encourage volunteers to approach us if they need additional supports (regardless of age). If you have any questions about how we support our volunteers, or any other questions about the roles we offer, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Where is the Museum of Oxford? Located inside the Oxford Town Hall on St Aldates.
How long are the shifts? If you are volunteering as a Welcoming Volunteer, we have a Long shift (3.5 hours with a break) and a short shift (2.5 hours). You will swap areas halfway through the shift to keep things interesting. Other volunteering opportunities have different time commitments which will be listed in the description.
How will you communicate with me? The Volunteer and Operations Officer will email you once a week with opportunities. You will be told how to sign up; usually it’ll be using Better Impact or by emailing the Volunteer and Operations Officer.
Will you tell me what to do? Yes, we’ll train you in advance and provide you with more information about the collection, exhibitions and how things operate.
How often should I expect to volunteer? We need Welcoming volunteers from Monday-Saturday every week. It would be great if you could commit to volunteer at least once a month. Again, other opportunities will have different time commitments depending on the role.
You decide when you would like to volunteer your time (opt-in rather than opting out), and we completely understand that there are times when you will be able to volunteer more or less of your time.
We are happy for you to be a seasonal volunteer if that works best for you e.g. if you attend university in another place but live in Oxford out of term times and vice versa.
Will you check my references? Yes, so please make sure you provide valid references when applying.
Will you pay for my travel expenses? Yes! As long as you are travelling within the Oxford ring road, we can pay towards your bus fare.
Will you provide me with a reference? The Museum of Oxford will happily act as a reference for volunteers after the completion of 3 months of regular volunteering.
What should I wear? There is no strict dress code as we think volunteers should be comfortable, relaxed and happy when you are volunteering at the Museum. Make sure you are dressed appropriately for the volunteering task and with respect to the audiences and visitors you will be working with.
Am I responsible for visitors’ children? No. You can support and engage with families but must not accept responsibility for looking after children. There are specific roles where you will assist members of the team with engaging with children and you will receive training before you start.
Do I need to apply for a DBS check? For the majority of opportunities, you will not need a DBS check before becoming a volunteer. That being said, we may ask for one if we deem it appropriate for a specific role or project.
Got more questions? Email the Volunteer and Operations Officer: museum@oxford.gov.uk
