Volunteering at York Museums Trust

Volunteering

Volunteering with York Museums Trust 

Our volunteering programme allows us to open up or collections and sites to our communities and audiences to participate and share the stories and objects we care for. 

This is an exciting time for us as we are able to open the programme to focus on our costumed interpreter role on Kirkgate, our Victorian Street at York Castle Museum. Volunteers allow us to tell stories about what York would have been like for people like you and me.  

To see our latest volunteers newsletter, Volunteer Voice, click here

Why volunteer with us? 

Our volunteer programme consists of people from every walk of life. There are those who have lived locally for many years and those who are far from home. Volunteering can be a great way to build your skills and confidence, especially if you’re seeking experience of working with people or are interested in museums or education. You can also make new friends and meet like-minded people through a volunteer role. 

You don’t have to have specialist knowledge to volunteer; all you need is an enthusiasm for the museums and their collections and a willingness to get stuck in! 

Roles

Costumed Interpreter  

As a volunteer on Kirkgate, you will immerse yourself in Victorian York and give our visitors a great experience, showing them what it was really like to live at this time. We have a wide range of roles on the street from shopkeeping to crafts people and even a Town Crier!  

You do not need any acting skills as you will be telling stories to our visitors rather than being a character.  

Hands on Here!  

Volunteers help visitors to get up close to objects from our collections. You will receive all the relevant training so that you can give information about the histories, people or artists to our visitors, to give them a great experience. We have this opportunity at all of our sites.

York Art Gallery  

Castle Museum  

Yorkshire Museum  

Anthony Shaw gallery steward at York Art Gallery  

Anthony’s collection of ceramics is on display at the gallery where it has been designed to look like a living room in his home. As a volunteer you will welcome people in to the space and be available to answer questions about Anthony and his collection. You will also look after the objects that are on open display to make sure they are safe and secure from accidental damage.  

 

Raindale Mill at the Castle Museum 

Have you ever fancied running a real water mill? We have a reconstructed early 19th century flour mill in the grounds of the Castle Museum, where you can show people how flour is made and how water is used to power the mechanism. It is a beautiful spot surrounded by wild flowers and grassland nestled next to the old castle walls.  

Observatory at the Museum Gardens

Have an interest in astronomy? Why not volunteer at the Observatory in the Museum Gardens.
Built by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in 1831, you can talk about the history of the observatory and astronomy in York.

How to Apply 

Our volunteering programme is now open!

If you are interested in volunteering with us on one of our projects above, then please click here to fill out one of our application forms through our application programme Better Impact*.

If you require an alternative format, please contact volunteering@ymt.org.uk for further information.

*Please note, this is a third party programme and you should read the Privacy Document before submitting an application.

 

Already a Volunteer?

If you are currently a volunteer and would like to sign up for sessions, follow the link below;

My Volunteering Page