Become a volunteer
Become a volunteer
At Poole Museum, we don’t just work in the community, we work with it. That means everything we do is shaped by people first, and that includes our amazing volunteers.
There’s a whole world of opportunities to get stuck into - from giving a warm welcome to visitors and guiding them through exhibitions, to helping out with creative programmes for both grown-ups and little ones.
Got a green thumb? Scaplen’s Court garden is lovingly cared for by our volunteer gardening team, and they’re always happy to welcome new hands (and trowels).
Find out more about volunteering
Sign up to become a volunteer
Sign up to become a volunteer
Ready to Join the Team? Brilliant! Here’s how it works:
Once you’ve applied, you’ll be invited for a friendly induction and an informal chat with our Volunteer Manager who's lovely, we promise. Sign up by heading to the Better Impact website
After signing up, you'll be invited to come and meet us in, chat with other volunteers, and find the perfect role that suits your interests and skills.
Volunteer ages, roles and hours
Volunteer ages, roles and hours
We welcome applications from everyone aged 18 and over - no experience needed, just enthusiasm and a love for sharing stories.
Most volunteer roles run on a shift basis, with hours to suit your schedule. Whether you’re a morning person, a weekend wanderer, or free in the evenings, we’ve got a spot for you.
Uniform and dress code
Uniform and dress code
Once you’re on board, we’ll kit you out with a Poole Museum lanyard - your badge of honour!
We ask volunteers to wear smart casual attire while on shift., and we've got some rather lovely aprons for you - if you're happy to wear them. For some specific roles, we may provide a uniform to help you look the part (and feel it too) - except for our garden volunteers, who are welcome to dress for the weather and the weeds (sturdy shoes and comfy clothes encouraged!)
Looking good, history hero.
Volunteer expenses
Volunteer expenses
Expenses can be claimed for volunteer roles, with a daily cap of £5.00 for travel and/or parking.
If you're thinking of taking the leap and volunteering for Poole Museum, but have a burning question that's not been answered here, then drop us an email, or visit our volunteer platform, Better Impact to find out more and sign up - we'd love to hear from you!
Why volunteer?
Benefits of volunteering at Poole Museum
Benefits of volunteering at Poole Museum
Be part of a cultural adventure shaped by the sea. You will be able to:
- join a crew of passionate volunteers who care deeply about Poole and its people
- meet fascinating folk from all walks of life - sailors, storytellers, you name it
- feel the joy of inspiring visitors and making their day just a little more magical
- put your skills to good use - whether you’re a history buff, a people person, or just really good at pointing out cool stuff
- boost your experience in the heritage and culture sector (and add some sparkle to your CV)
- enjoy a safe, welcoming space where everyone belongs
- try something new and give back to the community that shaped this seaside town
- build confidence in communication, teamwork, and leadership by guiding groups and chatting with visitors
- get trained up in all the good stuff: safeguarding, gallery content, object handling, health and safety, and more
Training and skills development
Training and skills development
We won’t just throw you in at the deep end (unless you’re into that sort of thing).
As a Poole Museum Volunteer, you’ll get a full induction - a proper welcome aboard - so you know your way around the place, and the people. If your role needs extra training, your team lead or volunteer lead will sort that before your first shift. You might even be paired up with a seasoned volunteer or staff member until you feel shipshape and confident.
Some roles come with ongoing training, including regular briefings on our collections, exhibitions, and events. You’ll also have the chance to learn on the job - from public engagement to heritage interpretation and making history come alive for everyone who walks through our doors.
There may also be opportunities to take part in access and inclusion training, helping you champion an inclusive approach in everything you do. And if you’re interested, you could dive deeper into specialist training to support visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN) or visual impairments.
Benefit to Poole Museum and our visitors
Benefit to Poole Museum and our visitors
Poole Museum belongs to the people of Poole. Our collections tell the stories of this town’s rich, salty, surprising past - and we want local residents right at the heart of it. That’s why we actively invite you to volunteer in our spaces. It helps us reflect the diversity of our visitors and builds pride in the culture that makes Poole, well, Poole.
Volunteers are a big part of what makes a visit to the museum memorable. You help create those “remember when…” moments that people take home, share with friends, and come back for. That kind of connection is what turns a museum into a community hub - and a cultural centre that’s as lively and welcoming as our harbour.
Find out why some of our lovely volunteers choose to volunteer - and what they love about volunteering for us!
Ayesha - Volunteer
Originally from across the Atlantic and now in her second year of study, Ayesha balances volunteering at Poole Museum alongside her Illustration course at Arts University Bournemouth.
Volunteering gives her a real feel for life in the museum world, perfectly complementing her passion for culture, heritage, and public art. With a promising career ahead as a freelance artist and muralist, she’s inspired by everything around her - from artsy spaces to archaeology and even the science behind museum artefacts, such as the dendrochronology of our log boat.
Her favourite spot is the art 'gallery within a gallery' on Level 3, where creativity and storytelling come together in a unique way. She loves how visitors can discover so much about the area, with each gallery revealing a completely different facet of the same place, proof there’s truly something here for everyone.
Adam - Volunteer
As a regular volunteer, Adam generously gives up his time to support the museum, always ready to step in and help wherever he’s needed (which we're always very grateful for!)
He’s passionate about history, the environment, and the deep connections that tie Poole’s past to its present. Adam loves how every gallery links together to tell a bigger story, and he’s endlessly fascinated by it all, so much so that choosing a favourite object is nearly impossible (ask him about the Durotrigian coin!)
Constantly building his knowledge of Poole’s rich history, he’s keen to share what he’s learned and spark curiosity in every visitor he meets. For Adam, volunteering is about getting closer to the place you live, building connections, and helping others see it in a whole new way.
Diane - Volunteer
Diane’s love of museums started in childhood visits with her dad, and now she’s come full circle as part of the Poole Museum team.
Since signing up as a volunteer during our redevelopment, she’s brought warmth and enthusiasm to every corner of the museum - from her welcoming presence in the shop, where she enjoys helping visitors choose the perfect keepsake, to getting stuck into creative art workshops.
With a fondness for Lucian Freud and a nostalgic love of the hippo, Diane treasures the chance to meet people, keep learning, and uncover just how rich and surprising Poole’s history really is. For her, it’s all about widening horizons and finding fulfilment.
