Volunteer roles available
The Centre is run entirely by volunteers who have a wide variety of interests. It is an exciting time as we look to future-proof the Heritage Centre and develop our offer based on the fascinating history of the town. We are looking to increase our volunteer team with a variety of roles. These would suit adults of all ages (minimum age of 17) , including people looking for social connection and community engagement; wanting to learn new skills or use established ones; or gaining experience for a future career in heritage or museum work.
The roles we presently have available are as follows, but please do get in touch if there are other skills you feel you could offer.
Visitor Services Volunteer
Duties will include:
- Welcoming and engaging with visitors
- Providing information about the centre and its exhibits (after training)
- Serving visitors in the gift shop
- Conducting visitor surveys
- Helping with events
Skills required
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Confident and outgoing and enjoys chatting with a variety of people
- Enthusiastic about heritage generally
- Eager to learn more about Knutsford and its heritage
Learning Volunteer
This role would suit someone who is enthusiastic about learning and keen to help with informal family learning and/or formal school visits.
Duties could include:
- Helping with family craft activities during school holidays and weekends
- Helping with school visits during term time
- Demonstrating or facilitating handling sessions (after training)
- Helping to develop and deliver workshops for school pupils (KS1 and KS2)
- Creating resources in advance of learning sessions
- Setting up before and clearing away after learning sessions
- Conducting feedback and evaluation surveys
Skills required
- Experience of working with children and families desired but not essential
- Enthusiasm for working with children and families
- Interest and experience of arts and crafts
- Interest in history
Exhibitions Volunteer
This role might suit someone interested in a career in heritage and museums who wants to gain experience of curatorial work. But it would also be suitable for anyone who is interested in history and communicating this to visitors.
Duties could include:
- Carrying out research for temporary exhibitions
- Writing and preparing object labels
- Helping to install temporary exhibitions
- Working on improvements to permanent displays
- Helping with environmental monitoring when required
Skills required
- Attention to detail
- Good research skills
- Interest in history
Marketing Volunteer
Duties could include:
- Promoting the Heritage Centre both locally and nationally/internationally
- Helping with social media and our website
- Writing press releases
- Helping to develop a marketing strategy
- Producing and distributing marketing material
Skills required:
- While no prior marketing or social media experience is needed, any relevant experience would be welcome
- Attention to detail
- Excellent written communication skills
- Enthusiasm to promote the Heritage Centre
- Willingness to learn about the Centre and town’s history and to share this knowledge
Walks and talks volunteer
We offer a range of walks and talks on the history of Knutsford and our exhibitions but are looking to increase the number and variety of these.
Duties could include:
- Lead engaging and informative walks around Knutsford (after full training)
- Deliver engaging and informative talks to visitors on subjects such as the Knutsford Millennium Tapestry; Elizabeth Gaskell; Knutsford May Day (after full training)
- Develop new topics for walks and talks
- Interact with visitors, answer questions, and encourage discussion.
Skills required:
- Good communication and public speaking skills
- Enthusiasm for museums, history or cultural heritage
- Friendly, approachable, and able to engage with diverse audiences.
- Willingness to learn about the history of Knutsford and Heritage Centre exhibitions
- Punctuality and reliability in keeping to commitments.
- No prior tour guiding experience required – training will be provided but a willingness to research, create and give engaging tours is important.
Benefits for all volunteer roles include:
- Regular training provided
- Become part of a friendly team with opportunities to attend social events
- Shop and events discounts
- Monthly newsletter
- Free parking
If you would like further information on volunteering please call us on 01565 650506; e-mail: info@knutsfordheritage.co.uk; or pop in to 90A King Street, Knutsford WA16 6ED when we are open (Thurs-Sat 11am-4pm).
