Get Involved
The New Forest Ninth Centenary Trust encourages and welcomes volunteer help and is enormously grateful for the support it currently receives. The Trust would like to thank all those that volunteer their time as well as those who donate objects to the Museum.
There are lots of ways you can get involved in volunteering at the New Forest Centre. Here is a list of just some of things you can do:
- Become a Volunteer Gallery Steward who does anything from helping to keep the Children’s Discovery Area clean and tidy to getting involved in living history activities.
- Join our team of Library volunteers who undertake cataloguing and research. We also plan to build up a team of volunteers who can help the public with their enquiries.
- Join our team of Education volunteers who help the Education team with their lifelong learning activities. This could involve anything from helping out with a toddlers group to assisting with our evening lectures.
- Help start an Exhibitions team. You could be helping to prepare and set-up exhibitions or be stewarding them during opening hours.
- Help set up our Membership Group to raise funds for the Centre and help with events.
How do I volunteer?
If you are interested in any of the above, please contact the Centre Office. We can then put you in contact with the member of staff involved with your chosen interests. After an initial chat, you’ll probably be asked to come in and meet with us in order for us to get a better understanding of how and when you’d like to volunteer.
What happens next?
We then try to match a volunteer with a ‘volunteer task’ and assuming that is successful, and after the usual checks, we would contact you to arrange the where’s, how’s and when’s of performing the task.
Can anyone volunteer?
We would love to hear from you, whatever your skills and interests. It isn’t always possible to find a volunteering opportunity straight away if, for example, there isn’t an immediate need for certain tasks to be done. Sometimes we have to keep a potential volunteer ‘on ice’ until we can match a task to a volunteer. However, we will never forget that you have volunteered your time and skills and we will be back in touch as soon as a suitable task arises.
Will I be given training?
All volunteers are given induction training and instruction in the tasks they’ve been asked to perform. Sometimes more specialist training is given if there is a particular volunteer task that needs undertaking.
What will I get out of volunteering?
Every volunteer has their own reason for volunteering, but all share a love of what they do and a desire to share their time, skills and enthusiasm with others.
It’s a great way to get involved with your local community and it's great fun, so get in touch and get volunteering at The New Forest Centre!