We celebrated the sector’s wonderful volunteers from 2-8 June 2025
Volunteering has been an integral part of the museum sector for many years, with many museums being wholly volunteer run.
Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the contribution that millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities. In museums, we are grateful for the skills and experience they bring, the warmth and passion they share, and the commitment and loyalty they demonstrate.
In many museums, through moving away from a top-down prescription of roles and towards a bottom-up shaping of volunteering opportunities, we are seeing the sector increasingly value and recognise the role of volunteers.
Through thinking about volunteering differently, from micro to nano, from remote to digital volunteering, increasing flexibility opens up opportunities more widely, providing new platforms for engagement and participation in the sector.
Volunteers add diversity of experience, interest and opinion to the sector, and can help keep museums relevant and at the heart of their communities.
A huge thank you to all those who volunteer, from one hour a year to 100 hours a year: your contribution is valued and valuable.
During the week of 2-8 June 2025 we celebrated all things volunteering. As part of this, we spoke to volunteer managers and volunteers about their role and impact within the sector, and we shared their insights about what volunteering means for them and what it might mean for you.
Exploring volunteering
Asmaa Elmongi
“Some people believe that volunteering can undervalue you as a professional. I don’t think that’s true”
Iain Morley
“Volunteering is a great way to meet interesting new people, and it helps you develop new and existing skills”
Jaki Collison
“Volunteering has enriched my life – from the people I meet that I wouldn’t have met otherwise, to the knowledge and confidence I’ve gained”
Haydn Corrodus
“Plenty of studies discuss the positive psychological impact that helping others can have on a person”
Sue Hughes
“I get to be hands-on and connect with my colleagues and visitors – from weeding the garden to butter making demonstrations”
Rosie Barker
“I’ve gained confidence, met new people, had new experiences and challenged myself, while learning a huge amount along the way”
Will Tregaskes
“Volunteering has inspired me to continue contributing to the sector and see a vision of what it could become”
