Volunteering in Tameside’s Museums and Galleries

“A volunteer is worth ten pressed men”

Have you ever thought about working in a Museum or Art Gallery?

“I have found the experience hugely rewarding and would actively encourage others to share the experience” (David McCormack)

“It was good to have something interesting to do in the school holidays rather than being bored” (George Dalton)

“I made some lovely friends and it greatly improved self confidence” (Kate Wood)

Tameside has 6 Museums and Galleries across the Borough:

• Portland Basin Museum (Ashton under Lyne)
• Central Art Gallery (Ashton under Lyne)
• Museum of the Manchester Regiment (Ashton under Lyne)
• Setantii Museum and Waterworks (Ashton under Lyne)
• Astley Cheetham Art Gallery (Stalybridge)
• The Rutherford Gallery (Hyde)

Why should I become a volunteer?

• Improve your CV
• Meet new people
• Gain new skills
• Gain experience working an a different environment
• Help to maintain and promote Tameside’s proud heritage
• Simply have fun

What do museum volunteers do?

These are a few people that have volunteered in the Museum Service over the past few years. If you would like to know more about what these people did, click on highlighted names.

What are the current volunteering opportunities?

Although there are not volunteering opportunities at every site all the time there are many projects being developed across the Museum Service that could use your help.

To learn more about some of the current volunteering opportunities across the service call one of the curators for an informal chat.

• Military History Curator - Garry Smith (0161 342 2254)
• Social History Curator - Rachel Cornes (0161 343 2878)
• Art Curator - Marie Holland (0161 343 2878)

Here are a few of the projects that you may be able to help with

Oral History Interviewers:

The Museum of the Manchester Regiment has created an oral history programme with the aim of recording the experiences of men, women and children that have strong, first hand experiences of the Manchester Regiment.

The programme uses the latest technology, for which training will be given. Volunteers will also be given training on the techniques of oral history interviews. Volunteers must have excellent inter-personal skills, be inquisitive and have excellent listening skills.

An interest in military history is not essential but an interest in people is.

Military Uniform Collection Improvements:

The Museum of the Manchester Regiment is looking for volunteers to help improve the storage of its military uniform collection. This work will begin by making individual uniform hangers. The work will be undertaken either in the Museum or in the Museum’s storage facility. Volunteers must have basic sewing skills but training will be given on how to construct the padded hangers.

Honours & Awards Database Entry & Research:

The Museum of the Manchester Regiment is creating an on-line database detailing men of the Regiment that have earned honours and awards.

Work will begin by entering the museums records onto a database. After this is done those records will be checked against other sources of information and additional material will be added. Volunteers will be trained on using these historical sources and they will then compile that additional information in hard-copy and add the information to the database.

Volunteers will need to have good ICT skills, be methodical in their approach with a good attention for detail as well as having good organisational skills. A strong interest in military history is essential, particularly 20th Century.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Museum of the Manchester Regiment Ashton Town Hall Market Place Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6DL  View local map
0161 342 2254