Volunteer
The Royal Gunpowder Mills would not be able to operate without the support of our volunteers. Whether you are interested in lending your expertise to the maintenance and development of the site, or you are willing to give up a few hours each week to assist with visitor services, particularly at weekends, we would love to hear from you.
Download our Volunteer Information Leaflet...
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Role Descriptions
We are currently recruiting for the various positions listed below:
Visitor Services
1. Stewarding
Be one of a team of uniformed volunteers assisting visitors to get the most out the experience of being at this historic and natural site. Front of house duties including welcoming visitors onto site, staffing exhibitions & the general site, assisting with events & directing visitors in the car park. Read more...
2. The Armoury Steward
Help visitors to enjoy and learn from the exhibits in the Armoury collection. Duties include welcoming visitors, and engaging with them to explain and demonstrate weapons and equipment in the collection. Opportunities also exist to help with the up-keep and improvement of the exhibition outside the times when it is open to the public. Read more...
3. Tour Guide
Pass on the wonders of the history, buildings and nature of the site to the visitors by being the guide on the tractor trailer tours. The tour is a 40 minute ride around almost the entire site. Also there are occasionally opportunities to give introductory talks. Read more...
4. Tractor Land Train Driver
Learn the route and skills involved to manoeuvre the tractor and trailer around the bends and over the bridges of the site. All you need is a full UK driving licence, to pass your assessment and have some free time at weekends in the summer or occasional weekdays. Read more...
5. Military Truck Driver
Learn the route and skills involved to manoeuvre the 4 ton Bedford army truck around the bends and over the bridges of the site. All you need is a full UK driving licence, to pass your assessment and have some free time at weekends during the summer season or weekdays in the school holidays. Read more...
6. Shop Assistant
Care for the gift shop displays and operate the till to sell shop items. Provide information to the visitors about the site and activities and sell season tickets and Land Train tickets. Read more...
General
7. Building & Site Maintenance Volunteer
Help with the varied tasks involved in looking after the 170 acre site, its buildings and exhibitions. Assist with projects, clearing, cleaning, cutting grass, repairs, decorating etc inside and outside. Maintaining this important historic site and making it possible for visitors to enjoy the walks, exhibitions, views and events in safety and comfort. Read more...
8. Administration Helper (currently full)
Be a regular or occasional office volunteer helping with various duties some to support the educational school visits such as cutting, folding and making up packs for the children’s events and general office admin such as mail outs, filing, photocopying, folding leaflets and administrative projects to support the RGM office staff. Read more...
9. Promotional
We ask all our volunteers if they would distribute literature to promote RGM in their area as part of their volunteering. This could involve asking your local library, Drs or Dentist’s (waiting room), shops or sports centre etc to have a display of leaflets and/or posters advertising RGM’s events or staffing RGM’s stand at shows/fairs giving out leaflets and promoting the site as a visitor attraction. Read more...
10. Safety Systems Maintenance Volunteer
Working with the Health & Safety Co-ordinator following current legislation to set up and maintain checklists. Ensuring Health and Safety equipment, procedures and all related written records are appropriate and up to date. Read more...
Projects
11. Railway Project Volunteer
Join the hardworking (and tea drinking) team of railway volunteers. The project work involves manual tasks, skilled work and basic DIY on rolling stock and laying rail. Read more...
12. Nature Conservationist
Work alongside other conservation enthusiasts and learn about the wildlife on site and how to preserve and develop natural habitats. Clear access & views of the site and help develop displays for the visitors and children’s groups enhancing their experiences. Read more...
13. Archive Assistant (currently full)
Work on various projects building the archives into a digitalised and easily accessible core of information. Recording items and documents. Cataloguing photographs of objects and historical photographs of the site and adding information to database. Read more...
Children and family activities
14. Education Programme Assistant
Support the education staff team ensuring the smooth running of the children’s sessions by assisting with preparation and clearing, guiding School groups/classes from base to base around the site and helping in the classrooms with art activities. Read more...
15. Family Activity Assistant
Help to create a fun and educational atmosphere at our family activity workshops. Support the staff in ensuring the smooth running of the family activity sessions (art and craft activities, workshops, science activities) by helping in the workshops with activities, and assisting with preparation and clearing. Read more...
Individual Roles
Services Engineer
Assisting the Services Manager with maintenance and development of the site and exhibitions. Repairing and building items for the general site & exhibitions and offering advice on maintenance and engineering issues. Read more...
Health & Safety Adviser and Trainer
Advising staff and RGM Health & Safety Committee on matters relating to current legislation, H & S procedures and site issues. Offering expert training for staff and volunteers in H & S awareness and specific H & S issues. Read more...
For more information: Email: Liz Went
Tel: +44(0) 1992 707340
Fax: +44(0) 1992 707372
