Ongoing/One Off: Ongoing
Minimum Commitment: Once a month
Location: Bristol BS1 6XG
Hours: 70+ hours
DBS Check Required? No
Expected Activities:
1. Commit to initial weekly volunteering shifts in the Visitor Centre to provide a deeper understanding of the site, its history, and atmosphere. This will become optional after 4 shifts have been completed.
2. Keep up to date by reading briefings and information by email, newsletter, and catch-ups with the Volunteer Manager.
3. Invite visitors to share their memories and stories about Underfall Yard, ensuring that appropriate permissions have been recorded.
4. Generate ideas and create posts for the Trust’s social media channels, which will be reviewed and scheduled for release by the Community, Learning and Volunteer Manager throughout the year.
5. Ensure that all online content reflects the charitable goals of Underfall Yard Trust and complies with the Trust’s policies and procedures.
Purpose of Role: To engage visitors and online audiences and promote Underfall Yard as a working maritime site, an important industrial heritage site, and cultural asset. We also hope to inspire interest in the rebuild project after the fire on site in May 2023.
Anticipated Time Contribution: The induction for social media volunteers consists of a half-day induction at the yard, as well as a minimum of four shifts at the Underfall Yard Visitor Centre. These initial shifts will give you time to get to know the site, engage with its audience, and gather some initial ideas.
When four Visitor Centre shifts have been completed, the role becomes more flexible. There will be one monthly shift for all social media volunteers to convene on site. Those who wish to continue their shifts in the Visitor Centre on top of their social media role are welcome to do so.
What we are looking for:
Essential:
* Enthusiasm for relevant subjects (Bristol, history, buildings, engineering, maritime industries, etc.)
* Reliable and a good team member
* Friendly and approachable manner, suitable for a visitor-facing role
* Good record-keeping skills
Desirable:
* Interest in media and public communications
* Experience in photography, videography, and/or editing
Training: An induction will be given before your first shift, including an explanation of the trust's procedures and health and safety guidelines. Briefings on the progress of the Underfall Yard rebuild project, in the aftermath of the fire in 2023. Ongoing support from the Community Learning and Volunteer Manager.
Benefits:
* Meet new people and get involved in the yard community
* Mileage allowance or travel expenses within agreed guidelines
* Free drink at the Underfall Café for each shift and 10% discount on meals
* Valuable experience in external communications and content creation, as well as insight for working in the museums/heritage sector
Notes: Social Media Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
About Us: Underfall Yard was built in the 1880s as a purpose-built docks maintenance facility. The Hydraulic Power House was completed in 1887 and powered a network of locks, cranes, swing bridges, and much more. The 1907 hydraulic pumps were decommissioned in 2010 and the building was opened to the public in 2016 as a Visitor Centre and Café.
Underfall Yard is not a museum. It is a working environment with maritime businesses, an operational slipway, and the Docks Engineer and Harbour Master’s teams all contributing to the working nature of the site. We provide education activities for many audiences, including schools, youth engagement charities, adult learning groups, and community groups.
At the heart of Bristol’s historic and picturesque floating Harbour, Underfall Yard has been a focal point of maritime and engineering Bristol since 1809. Although the Yard has a thriving visitor centre, it is not a museum. Instead, it is a busy working environment with boatbuilders, a slipway, and Bristol City Council teams all onsite. The Underfall Yard Charitable Trust operates a comprehensive Volunteering Programme which adds value to everything we do.
Volunteers at the Yard really get to know Bristol and how it ‘works’. In our Visitor Centre, volunteers get to meet a wide variety of people as they explain the history of the site in the Visitor Experience role. Education and tour volunteers can improve their public speaking skills and confidence with both youth and adult groups. Those seeking to work with vulnerable members of our community can do so as part of our community outreach programme. We also have volunteer roles in writing, photography, and marketing. The Trust takes a proactive approach to student volunteering by ensuring our students gain as much from their time with us (gaining experience, practising skills, and trying new things) as we gain from them.
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