Volunteering Fit for the Future is a programme of support to help up to ten non NPO museums to improve their volunteering plans.
The aim of the programme is to review the museums’ volunteer involvement and develop SMART action plans to improve their offer. There is also the potential to achieve their new goals by securing grant funding from Museum Development South West.
Following a call for expressions of interest in November 2023, ten museums were invited to take part in the 2023/24 programme:
- Combe Martin Museum
- Exmouth Museum
- Gillingham Museum
- Market Lavington Museum
- Portland Museum
- Shaftesbury Abbey
- St Ives Museum
- Tamar Crossings
- Trowbridge Museum
- The Young Gallery
Participant museums complete a preliminary questionnaires to outline their current position, before receiving a 1-1 conversation with the Sustainable Volunteering Officer, looking at their policies and priorities for volunteering in their museums.
The museums receive targeted advice and signposting to support them, alongside an invitation to online drop in ‘surgery’ sessions with other museums taking part in the programme. The themes of these sessions are decided based on areas of greatest need. Whether the theme is setting up volunteer open days or understanding what makes a good induction, museums will work together, learn from each other, and have access to advice and support to help them grow in confidence and make progress.
Museums then build action plans to achieve their priorities for volunteer involvement in their museums, and are invited to apply for a small grant to help them reach their goals, funding permitting.
“Many thanks for this – it’s very timely for us and supports our objective of enhancing and strengthening our volunteer relationships”
– St Ives Museum