Carisbrooke Castle Museum is a museum of Isle of Wight history, run by an independent charitable trust and set within the English Heritage managed castle. It was founded in 1898 by Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, as a memorial to her husband Prince Henry of Battenberg. Beatrice said: “It is my earnest hope and desire, with the help and co-operation of others, I may be able to form a full collection of objects of historical interest connected with the Island.”
The museum collections still reflect Beatrice’s wish and the mission of the museum is to collect and record the history of the people of the Isle of Wight and make it accessible to all. The collection, acquired over the last 120 years and now totaling over 34,000 objects, includes applied art, fine art, photography, social history, science and technology, archaeology and archives, and covers local history topics from prehistory to the present day.
In 2017, volunteers at the museum were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK, celebrating the work done by these groups in their own communities.
The museum is keen to recruit new volunteers to join its Visitor Welcome team. Volunteers are vital in welcoming visitors to the museum. One current volunteer explains: “I have lived a ten-minute walk from the Castle for more than 30 years and joined the museum volunteer team about 10 years ago. Not only am I interested in the castle and its royal connections, but I also enjoy meeting people. To volunteer gives me the opportunity to talk to visitors from all parts of the world and tell them a bit about our museum, its history, and exhibits. I feel privileged to volunteer in such a historic environment.”
Volunteering can offer a great opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people, doing something worthwhile in your spare time with just a few hours making a big difference to the museum and its work. No experience is necessary and full training is provided.
What the role involves:
Volunteers play a key role in welcoming visitors and may be involved in:
* Greeting visitors at the main museum entrance and providing information.
* Assisting in the museum shop, handling transactions and documenting sales.
* Greeting and assisting visitors in the museum's restored 'Princess Beatrice's Kitchen', providing visitors with a friendly welcome and information.
Skills
* Welcoming and friendly
* Able to communicate verbally with different types of people
* Able to follow simple processes and policies
* An interest in local history (no prior knowledge necessary)
When can I volunteer?
Mon: Yes
Tue: Yes
Wed: Yes
Thu: Yes
Fri: Yes
Sat: Yes
Sun: Yes
Availability Details
The visitor welcome role is seasonal (currently weekdays April - October). Most of our Visitor Welcome volunteers volunteer in a regular weekly shift of between 2 and 4 hours. There are various shift vacancies at the moment which can be discussed in further detail by contacting us.
Location
Castle Hill
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 1XY
#J-18808-Ljbffr