Important Information
The Learning Support Volunteer Register is currently open for expressions of interest.
Applications are welcome from volunteers aged 18+. There is no closing date.
Events volunteers will be eligible for a reference when they have completed 20 hours of volunteering.
This role can include travel expense of up to £8/day.
Important Documents
Volunteer Role Description: Learning Support Register (accessible pdf)
Expression of Interest Form (accessible word doc)
Expression of Interest Form (accessible pdf)
About this Role
Further information is available in the more detailed Volunteer Role Description.
Informal enquiries should be directed to our Education and Outreach Coordinator:
Martha Heemskerk
Tel. 01223 767044
Email museum@classics.cam.ac.uk
What this role will entail:
Learning Support Volunteers will support the Museum of Classical Archaeology’s Learning programme. This opportunity involves supporting the Education and Outreach Coordinator as she leads school sessions at the museum, or supporting visits from schools who have chosen to self-lead. Volunteers will not be asked to lead sessions but will answer questions and engage with children and teachers.
This role will suit anyone who enjoys interacting with children and facilitating learning and maybe particularly appropriate for anyone who wants to pursue a career in teaching. Prior knowledge of our museum is not a necessity, just an enthusiasm for engaging with children and willingness to learn.
Volunteers, once accepted into this role, will be added to the Learning Support Volunteer Register and be contacted about volunteering shifts via email.
Why the Museum of Classical Archaeology needs this role:
The Museum of Classical Archaeology offers learning visits to primary schools, secondary schools and beyond. Led sessions are facilitated by our Museum Education and Outreach Coordinator: this includes sessions on the Greeks and Romans for KS2 (ages 7-11), as well as tours for secondary and sixth-from students. Some schools opt for self-guided visits, which means there is no member of staff guiding their visit. We need volunteers not only to help us support the learning experience of the children as they explore the museum as well as to help us to ensure our collections are protected.
Potential time commitment:
This is a flexible role without regular hours, depending on when school sessions take place. Our school visits are available to book between 10am-5pm Tuesday-Friday. Our school sessions are usually between one to two hours long, with some additional setting up and tidying time. Most school visits take place in the morning.
The Education and Outreach Coordinator will send out available school visits on a monthly basis, depending on when school visits are booked in. Ideally you would be able to commit to at least one shift per month.
How to Apply
We manage our volunteers through the UCM Volunteer Makers Platform. Registration take several steps:
- Please sign up for an account on Volunteer Makers.
- Please register your interest for the Learning Support Volunteer at the Museum of Classical Archaeology Challenge.
- You will receive an email asking you to complete the final stage of registration. Please click on the link, where you will have the opportunity to tell us a little more about yourself and your interest in the role.
Learning Support Volunteers will be invited to have an informal phone chat and to attend an induction before they are formally accepted as volunteers.
What happens next
Learning Support Volunteers will be invited to attend an induction and a taster session before they are formally accepted as volunteers. We will also contact your referees. You will receive emails indicating when we need additional help and we will allocate volunteering opportunities on a first come, first served basis.
