The conservation and preservation of our heritage place tremendous burdens on the limited resources of museums, historic houses, libraries, gardens and so on. NADFAS heritage volunteers help in vital but non-specialist ways such as caring for collections, recording documents, guiding and stewarding.
DDFAS supports the work of our local museum, the Horniman, and several of our members work there. There are many other opportunities for heritage volunteers in the London area. Organisations currently seeking help include:
The National Portrait Gallery off Trafalgar Square would like help auditing picture frames on one or two Tuesday or Wednesday mornings per month. Training would be provided and there would be museum concessions.
The Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty St is looking for volunteers to be stewards at front of house and to assist visitors generally. Lunch vouchers would be available and there would be an opportunity to attend events and lectures.
The Royal Society of Medicine at 1 Wimpole St needs help with book conservation on one or two Mondays per month. Volunteers without relevant experience could enrol on the next NADFAS book training day.
Fulham Palace (nearest tube Putney Bridge on the District Line) requires volunteers for guiding and stewarding, to act as education and tour assistants and to help with the care of collections. Work schedules would be arranged by mutual agreement. The Museum is open Saturday to Wednesday 1.00 to 4.00 pm.
The Household Cavalry Museum at Horse Guards would be grateful for guides, stewards, front of house and help with young tour groups. Volunteers can choose days, hours and frequency.
The Garden Museum in Lambeth Palace Road is looking for volunteers to steward, help at front of house and to guide tours. Lunch would be provided in the vegetarian café.
The National Archives at Kew have projects beginning in February or March 2012. Volunteers can select a project that interests them.
If you would like more information about heritage volunteering opportunities, please contact Vanessa Sutcliffe on 020 8670 5895 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
