Volunteering at the Science Museum

We are looking for an enthusiastic team of volunteers to join us in delivering hands-on sessions to visitors, interpreting objects related to engineering and problem-solving within the new Engineers Gallery .

The Volunteer-led Object Handling station allows visitors to see and touch real objects, helping to bring to life the stories of our galleries. The sessions run on a flexible rota from weekdays to weekends from 12.00 until 15.00 and with some offerings on special events. The museum currently holds regular object handling session's inspired by our Clockmakers' museum, Information age, and Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries collection. As well as helping us to establish our new engineers- themed activity, you will also have the chance to engage with these pre-existing object handling collections based on your interest

Through training and mentorship, volunteers will learn about the objects their associated galleries to share with visitors of all ages. Volunteers will also gain experience in busy museum environment, as well as developing skills related to facilitating and engaging with our visitors as part of a friendly team 

Ideally we would like volunteers to support our team for a period of at least six months. We would love it if volunteers could take part in at least one object handling session per week based on your availability. 

• Deliver object handling sessions for visitors as part of a small team of volunteers. 
• Learn about and engage the public with objects from the handling collection, discuss their history, importance and their connection to the wider engineering gallery.
• Carry out basic condition checks of the objects and report any damages.
• Help us to research and acquire new objects for the handling collection. 
• Liaise with your supervisor to provide information about your availability. 
• As a volunteer you will learn about our health and safety policies, procedures, and risk assessments. Allowing you to take care of your own personal safety and that of others. 

• Be friendly and have an interest in engaging with the public. 
• Be a good team player.
• Have a willingness to learn. 
• Have an interest in clocks and the history of clock making.
• We ask all our volunteers to show inclusive behaviours, valuing everyone's contribution and promoting a culture of openness.

• To volunteer in this role, you must be 18 or over and eligible to volunteer in the UK.
• Unfortunately, the Science Museum Group is unable to act as a sponsor organisation if you do not have the appropriate visa.
• If successful, we request a basic criminal record check. We'll arrange and process this for you, we will cover all the costs. 
• Any issues raised in the criminal record check will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• If selected you will be invited to a Taster session on:  Friday 26 May 2023  (10.00-13.00)
• The successful volunteers will then be invited to two full day induction and training sessions on:  

1. Wednesday 7 June 2023 (10.00-16.30)
2. Thursday 15 June 2023 (10.00-16.30) 

• If you have not heard from us by Tuesday 23 May 2023, then unfortunately your application was unsuccessful on this occasion and we encourage you to apply for other volunteer roles in the future.

Interested ? For more information about the role and how to apply, please see the Volunteer Vacancy Information Pack

• We would love to have you in the team! If you have any questions about the role, please contact our Volunteering Team, via volunteer@sciencemuseum.ac.uk
• If you need assistance to complete your application or attend the Taster Day, for example due to a disability, or would like to talk to us about what we can do to support you through this process, please contact us by email or by calling 0207 942 4302.
• We are working hard to understand our organisation better and to foster a culture that recognises and values different backgrounds, mindsets, skills, experience, knowledge and expertise. By having greater diversity, we believe that we will be a stronger and better organisation and ultimately will be able to inspire more futures. We therefore welcome applications from those who bring difference.