Volunteer at Marlow Museum! Are you are passionate about local history and looking for a way to give back to your community? Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others, share stories and help preserve our town's rich heritage. If you would like to know more, please look at the job descriptions and application form.
We have vacancies for roles such as:-
If you would like to know more about these roles, please click on the links above. Once a month, there is a Volunteers Meeting in the Court Garden Café, where volunteers can socialise. It is also a good forum for new developments and information to be disseminated. An annual Christmas lunch for all volunteers and members is held at a Marlow restaurant.



Volunteer Steward Role Description
About the Museum: We are a small independent museum (affiliated to the Association of Independent Museums) and charity registered with the Charity Commission. The museum is staffed and run entirely by volunteers. It focuses on the history and heritage of Marlow and its surrounding villages of Little Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Bisham, Medmenham and Greater Marlow. The museum opened in 2009 and is currently working towards Accreditation with the Arts Council. Our long-term aim is to acquire larger premises to do greater justice to the fascinating history and heritage of this beautiful area.
The Role of Steward: We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to ensure all our visitors enjoy their visit to Marlow Museum and leave with a greater understanding of the history of the local area. This volunteer opportunity will be of interest to anyone who loves local history and enjoys talking to people. Training will be given, along with a Volunteer Handbook.
Responsible to: the Duty Manager of the day, and the Chair of Trustees
Volunteer hours: Volunteers are requested to commit a minimum number of hours to this role (two to four) and be prepared to be included on a rota to cover opening hours. Shifts are currently available on Wednesdays 14.00-17.00; Saturdays or Sundays 13:00 – 17:00 and during the winter months on Sundays only, 1400-1600. The museum will open on other afternoons by arrangement when sufficient volunteers are available.
Frequency: Negotiable. Ideally once a fortnight, for a minimum of six months.
What we would like you to do:
Be present promptly at the museum to prepare for opening
Greet visitors and aim to ensure every visitor has an exceptional experience
Be friendly and informative.
When necessary, ensure Covid-19 regulations are observed and collect Test and Trace details. • Engage visitors with the collection and information boards
Help visitors to find their way round the Museum, including using reference books if required.
Enable purchase of exhibition booklets and other items on sale, using contactless payment where possible.
Make visitors aware of the donation box should they wish to donate
Ensure vigilance at all times regarding the safety and security of our collection and our visitors. • Ensure the museum is clean and tidy for opening and at closing
Alert the Duty Manager to any maintenance issues
Essential skills:
Friendly and engaging and a good communicator
Enjoy interacting with the public
Understand the need to provide an interesting experience for every visitor
An interest in Marlow and the areas covered by the Museum
A high level of punctuality and reliability
Willing to follow procedures but use own initiative and seek advice when appropriate.
An affinity with history and a willingness to learn about Marlow history
A team player and able to interact with other volunteers.
Desirable but not essential:
a. Customer service experience
b. Previous museum or heritage experience
Rewards
The chance to learn new skills and build up existing ones
The opportunity to make new friends and work within a team
Social events
Regular Newsletter
Please note: You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer at Marlow Museum.
How to Apply: Please fill out the application form and send it to contact@marlowmuseum.org or Della Fitzgerald, Marlow Museum, Court Garden, Pound Lane, Marlow SL7 2AE
Communications Volunteer Role Description
About the Museum: We are a small independent museum (affiliated to the Association of Independent Museums) and a CIO registered with the Charity Commission. The museum is staffed and run entirely by volunteers. It focuses on the history and heritage of Marlow and its surrounding villages of Little Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Bisham, Medmenham and Greater Marlow. The museum opened in 2009 and is currently working towards Accreditation with Arts Council England. Our long-term aim is to acquire larger premises to do greater justice to the fascinating history and heritage of this beautiful area.
The Role of Communications Volunteer: This is a new volunteer role and combines marketing, creativity and IT skills.
Responsibilities:
Designing and distributing leaflets and posters to publicise the museum’s activities.
Posting regularly on various social media to keep the museum in the public eye.
Working with the Chair and others to produce a lively quarterly Newsletter and ensure it is sent it to all trustees, volunteers, members and supporters.
Working with the Secretary and others to produce the Trustees’ Annual Report for the AGM and the Charity Commission, using content supplied by the trustees.
Liaising with the Website Volunteer to maintain the appeal of the museum website to young and old.
Responsible to: the Chair of Trustees or other named person.
Hours: Averaging at 1 day a week, over the year.
Frequency: Negotiable. Ideally once a fortnight, for a minimum of six months.
Essential skills:
IT skills – use of various social media; ability to design a variety of publicity materials.
Marketing experience
Willing to follow procedures but use own initiative and seek advice when appropriate.
A team player, able to get on well with trustees and volunteers.
Rewards:
The chance to learn new skills and build up existing ones
The opportunity to make new friends and work within a team
Satisfaction of playing a key role in the museum.
Social events.
How to Apply: Please fill out the application form and send it to contact@marlowmuseum.org or Della Fitzgerald, Marlow Museum, Court Garden, Pound Lane, Marlow SL7 2AE
Collections Volunteer Role Description
Why volunteer? Did you know, volunteering has been proved to benefit your overall well-being as well as your community?
About the Museum: We are a small independent museum (affiliated to the Association of Independent Museums) and a charity registered with the Charity Commission. The museum is staffed and run entirely by volunteers. It focuses on the history and heritage of Marlow and its surrounding villages of Little Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Bisham, Medmenham and Greater Marlow. The museum opened in 2009 and is currently working towards Accreditation with the Arts Council. Our long-term aim is to acquire larger premises to do greater justice to the fascinating history and heritage of this beautiful area.
About the role of Collections Volunteer: We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers with good attention to detail to help us document and record our collection according to the standards required for the museum to become Accredited. This volunteer opportunity will be of interest to anyone who is meticulous, enjoys solving problems, is able to use Excel and would be willing to learn to use the standard museum software, Modes. Training will be given on the procedures and on how to use Modes software to catalogue the collection.
You will be responsible to: the Secretary and the Chair of Trustees, until a Collections Manager is appointed.
Volunteer hours: Because of the training given and the tasks involved, the role will require a commitment of approximately one day a week for a minimum of one year. All roles at the museum include a trial period of 25 hours to ensure the role is right for you and the museum team.
What we would like you to do:
Learn about implementing the museum’s policies and procedures for Documenting the Collection.
Learn about implementing the museum’s policies and procedures on the Care of the Collection.
Assist us to
complete an Inventory of the collection
review the paperwork for each item in the museum’s collection and fill in the gaps where possible, making sure all items have numbers, names, locations and are designated as accessioned or loaned.
ensure all owned objects are entered correctly in the Accessions Register.
ensure all loans are specified and time limited.
digitise the museum collection by scanning and photographing objects.
Undertake Modes training with others and begin to use it as the museum’s Collection database.
What you will need:
An enthusiasm for documenting the Marlow collection
A willingness to follow procedures and seek advice when appropriate
Methodical working with an attention to detail
A team player, able to interact with other volunteers
A willingness to undertake training and follow guidelines
Ability to work alone or as part of a close-knit team
Good basic computer skills and a willingness to learn more
Desirable but not essential experience:
a. Previous volunteering, or work in, a museum
b. Experience of digital databases
What we offer you:
The chance to learn new skills and build up existing ones
The opportunity to make new friends and work within a team
Social events
A regular Newsletter
The knowledge that you have made a positive contribution to the long-term future of the museum
Please note: You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer at Marlow Museum.
How to Apply: Please fill out the application form and send it to contact@marlowmuseum.org or Della Fitzgerald, Marlow Museum, Court Garden, Pound Lane, Marlow SL7 2A
Learning Volunteer Role Description
About the Museum: We are a small independent museum and a charity in the historic town of Marlow on the River Thames. The museum was established in 2009 and is located adjacent to the leisure centre on Pound Lane. The collection focuses on the history and heritage of Marlow and its surrounding villages of Little Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Bisham, Medmenham and Greater Marlow.
The museum is run by a team of 30 volunteers, whose roles include opening the museum, the development and delivery of exhibitions and school visits, outreach work and the shop. Our long-term aim is to acquire larger premises to do greater justice to the fascinating history and heritage of this beautiful area.
The Role of learning volunteer: To support and deliver formal learning visits for primary school aged children and uniformed groups, either in school or in the community
Managed by: Education and Outreach Manager, Dave Part
Hours and frequency:
Attendance at visits varies but each session is around one and a half hours long (with a total of five to ten visits a year)
There would be regular catch ups with the education and outreach manager, approximately an hour every month
Hours vary on wider projects and supporting the handling boxes (see below)
What the role involves:
To deliver prepared sessions to primary school aged children and uniformed groups, using handling objects from the museum’s collection
Helping to improve existing sessions and develop new ones
Supporting the education and outreach manager with the development and management of handling boxes
Would suit you if you:
Have an interest in historic objects and archives and the Marlow area
Enjoy working with children and young people
Have an interest in teaching and sharing learning
Are a good listener and able to work well with others
Benefits of the role:
The chance to learn new skills and build up existing ones
The opportunity to make new friends and work within a team
Social events
Regular newsletter
Training: Volunteers will be given a full induction and training. They will also be signposted to wider training opportunities and meetings.
Requirements:
A DBS check is required for this role, which the museum can arrange for you
You must be 18 years to volunteer with Marlow Museum
How to Apply: Please fill out the application form and send it to contact@marlowmuseum.org or Della Fitzgerald, Marlow Museum, Court Garden, Pound Lane, Marlow SL7 2AE
Application to be a Volunteer at Marlow Museum
Court Garden, Pound Lane, Marlow, Bucks SL7 2AE - Registered Charity Number: 1187853
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