Visitor Experience Guide Volunteer
As a Visitor Experience Guide, you will play a key role in bringing the Museum of Power to life for visitors. You will learn how historic machinery operates, help demonstrate this and tell fascinating stories of the collection. This role is ideal for someone with good interpersonal skills, a practical interest in machinery, and a willingness to learn and work safely in an operational museum environment.
What’s involved?
In this role you will:
- Learn how museum machinery works, including how it is prepared, set up, and safely run for demonstrations
- Develop an understanding of the history, purpose, and operation of key artefacts, including the Lilleshall engine and belt-driven machinery
- Support the team during museum operational hours, by engaging with visitors and explaining how the machinery works
- Engage with visitors about the Lilleshall engine and other operational exhibits in a connecting and accessible way.
Progression will be gradual and based on experience, training completion, and assessment by the Museum team.
As your confidence, competence, and knowledge grow, you will be responsible for running live machinery demonstrations and sessions.
Skills
We are looking for volunteers who have:
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Confidence interacting with a wide range of visitors, including children and school groups
- Willingness to learn how to operate and demonstrate historic machinery (for example, the belt workshop and associated equipment)
- Ability to follow instructions, safety procedures, and risk assessments
- A team-focused and reliable approach.
Training, Health and Safety
You will receive structured training in machinery operation, interpretation and visitor engagement.
Before taking responsibility for operating or demonstrating machinery, you must be fully aware of and comply with:
- All Health and Safety requirements
- The Museum’s Risk Assessments and Method Statements
- Always work safely, protecting yourself, colleagues, visitors, and the historic equipment.
What we offer
- Full training and ongoing support
- The opportunity to gain practical experience with historic machinery
- A friendly and knowledgeable volunteer team
- The chance to develop presentation, technical and interpretive skills
- A rewarding role contributing to education, heritage presentation and public engagement.
What is the time commitment?
Volunteer hours are flexible and can be discussed to fit both Museum needs and personal availability. Attendance at training sessions is required before undertaking operational responsibilities.
You will have a named contact from the Museum team and there will be a duty manager on the day to support you, this is Debbie Thomas, the Museum Manager or James Gulleford, the Assistant Museum Manager.
How do I find out more?
For an informal chat about the role, please complete our short application form to tell us a bit about yourself.
If you have any questions or would like to apply in a different format, please contact us at: volunteers@museumofpower.org.uk