Archives & Collections Volunteer (Boat Conservation volunteer Ellesmere Port)

Canal & River Trust; Ellesmere Port; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading heritage charity is seeking volunteers in Ellesmere Port to support conservation and archiving initiatives. Responsibilities include caring for heritage items, cataloguing documents, and engaging with the public. Great opportunity to gain experience in a unique environment while making a difference. Training provided and a supportive team atmosphere assured.

Benefits

Sense of reward

New experience in a unique environment

Supportive network of colleagues

Opportunity to volunteer in a nationally accredited museum

Qualifications

• Must commit to volunteer roles involving heritage conservation.
• Ability to work well with others in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Specialist conservation of heritage artefacts.
• Caring for and maintaining items such as steam and diesel engines.
• Cataloguing documents and artefacts of significance.
• Conducting relevant research.

Skills

Friendly

Reliable

Good with people

Happy volunteering with others

Job description

Overview

Our historic boats at Ellesmere Port need your support. There are a number of activities which you could be involved with but mainly these centre around condition checking, conservation and cleaning, working on project briefs to preserve these amazing boats.

There is in-house training (conservation requirements) and also around 90-minutes of online training prior to starting. The online training can be completed with support by the Volunteering Team Leader.

As a leading heritage charity, we’ve deal with many fantastic old documents and items on a day to day basis. Documenting, making accessible and caring for these on a day to day basis is what our Archives & Collections Volunteers do. Some of their activities are within our museums at Ellesmere Port, Gloucester and Stoke Bruerne but others happen in our offices and attractions. The millions of visitors to our waterways, museums and attractions are intrigued by our wonderful 200 year old network.

Our volunteers help maintain and preserve these unique collections many of which are of national importance. The preservation and care by our volunteers will enable future generations to be inspired, learn and be proud of our waterways heritage.

Why we want you

There are a number of activities which you could be involved with including: working with our archives, in museums, online and in local archiving projects; researching archives outside the Trust, caring for specific historic items in our nationally recognised collection.

For example, within our museums, we are responsible for managing and maintaining our National Collection and National Archives. Our volunteers help maintain and preserve these unique collections many of which are of National importance. The preservation and care by our volunteers will enable future generations to be inspired, learn and be proud of our waterways heritage. Our Champions are there to facilitate a great experience all.

There are a number of activities which you could be involved with along our towpaths at our Welcome Stations; demonstrating in our collections teams at our museums; caring for and operating our swing and lift bridges to support passing boaters; facilitating safe passage through our tunnels where additional boater support is needed.

We have other roles which complement our Waterside Champions in more specific day to day customer focused roles: Rangers, Lock keepers, Explorers, Waterside Champions and Youth Engagement roles.

What you will be doing

• Specialist conservation of heritage artefacts
• Caring for, demonstrating and maintaining items such as steam and diesel engines and hour boat collection
• Cataloguing of documents and artefacts of national, regional and local significance
• Research relevant to our work as a national charity
• When you register as a volunteer, we will ask you about any unspent convictions which you need to declare and risk assess these as needs be.

The skills you need

• Friendly
• Reliable
• Good with people
• Happy volunteering with others

What’s in it for you

• Sense of reward
• New experience in a unique environment
• A supportive network of colleagues and volunteers
• The opportunity to volunteer in a nationally accredited museum