The Museum Gallery Assistant role is a public-facing volunteering opportunity based in the museum galleries, helping visitors engage with exhibitions, displays, and collections.
This role is ideal for anyone who enjoys talking to people, sharing knowledge, storytelling, and creating welcoming visitor experiences. As a Museum Assistant, you will help bring the museum’s displays to life by answering questions, and explaining exhibits to visitors of all ages and backgrounds.
You will work alongside museum staff and other volunteers in a supportive environment, developing communication skills while helping visitors have an enjoyable and informative visit.
This is a volunteer role, designed to provide experience, learning, and contribution. Volunteers support museum activities but do not replace paid staff or hold employee responsibilities.
What You’ll Be Doing
Under staff guidance and supervision, you may assist with:
- Welcoming visitors to the museum gallery
- Giving informal guided tours to individuals, families, and groups
- Explaining displays, objects, and exhibitions in an engaging and accessible way
- Answering visitor questions and encouraging curiosity
- Supporting family activities, talks, or events when required
- Helping maintain a friendly, safe, and inclusive gallery environment
- No prior guiding or teaching experience is required - training and support are provided
What You’ll Learn & Gain
This role is especially valuable for developing public engagement and communication skills. You will gain:
- Experience interacting with the public in a museum setting
- Confidence in speaking to groups and explaining complex ideas simply
- Knowledge of museum exhibitions and interpretation
- Customer service and visitor experience skills
- Insight into careers in museums, education, outreach, and heritage
This role is CV-building, particularly for those interested in education, science communication, museums, tourism, or public engagement.
Time Commitment
- Volunteering takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, and during school holidays.
- A regular commitment is encouraged to allow meaningful learning
- We understand school, college, university, and exam pressures
Accessibility & Inclusion
The Natural Sciences Museum is committed to being inclusive.
We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible. Please let us know how we can support you.
Pay: Up to £0.01 per year
Work Location: In person
