We get dozens of enquiries each week regarding volunteering. It would be wonderful if anyone could walk into the Sedgwick Museum and get up-close and personal with a T. rex fossil, but we have a duty of care to our collections and to those who interact with them. Remember; some of our objects bite back!
With this in mind, we must approach Volunteering in a structured way which ensures that everyone gets as much out of the opportunities as possible. Below are some questions and answers that we regularly get asked about volunteering with University of Cambridge Museums.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Most of our Volunteer roles are open to those who are 18 or over. Some of the roles that we organise are suitable for “family volunteering”, which means that people aged from 15 can get involved with a parent or guardian. Drag an adult along….they may have more fun than they think!
I have always loved Ancient Egypt. Can I volunteer in that department?
Don’t we all! Unfortunately, we cannot create volunteer roles specifically for individuals. A lot of time and effort is put into developing specific role descriptions, where there is a need, within collections and departments. We work with staff in the various museums to identify where a role could be created, outlining what the volunteer would be doing, who would be working with them and when they would be able to come in and carry out the role. By working in this way, we can ensure that volunteers are fully supported and not undertaking any roles that really should be done by a paid member of staff. All roles that Volunteers undertake support the work of paid staff.
OK, so how do I find out what roles are available?
Simply go to the Get Involved pages on our website. It’s a one stop shop for all our voluntary activities
Do I have to have specific qualifications?
Nope. Some roles may ask for specific skills, such as IT experience or strong communication skills.
How much time would I be giving up to volunteer?
This totally depends on the role. Do remember that volunteers are not forced to do a certain amount of time; we like to keep volunteering voluntary! Although, some roles may involve a number of different visits to assist with activities such as school groups or tours. We also run “micro volunteering” opportunities, which are one off volunteering events where people can get involved for just one session, which could be as short as one hour. An example of this was our Egyptian Pigment Experiment, where we asked members of the public to volunteer for an hour one evening to view examples of Egyptian pigments under tallow torchlight.
Can I apply for several different roles?
You sure can!
I am going to be in Cambridge for two weeks and would like to volunteer on specific dates. Is this OK?
It depends on what we have available at that time….. As mentioned above, we can’t create volunteer roles specifically for individuals but if one of our existing roles falls within your time period then go for it! Although, we do like to meet people before we take them on as a volunteer so that we can make sure you are right for the role. Some of our volunteer roles also require security checks, which can take some time.
For more information on volunteering, apprenticeships, internships and work experience please visit the Get Involved pages on our website.
