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Volunteering

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Volunteers help in many of our departments and play an important role, increasing our visitors' enjoyment and understanding of our collections.

Thank you for visiting the volunteering section of our website and your patience during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We are pleased to announce we are now able to offer volunteering opportunities below. Please also follow us on our social media to be updated when we advertise new opportunities for volunteers.

National Museums Scotland has over 500 volunteers making a valuable contribution to our work. Our main volunteering opportunities can be split into four main groups: administration, collections, public programmes and events. 

Events

Volunteering at our events is a great way to get involved, even if you don't have the time to make a regular commitment. We run an exciting programme of ‘one-off’ events at our four museums and often need volunteers to help. No experience is necessary, just lots of enthusiasm and a 'hands on' approach.

Administration

Volunteering with administrative and clerical tasks are of enormous value to our departments. This may include helping staff with data entry, office tasks such as filing or envelope stuffing for mail-outs.

Collections

Volunteering within collections will be behind the scenes, helping us with support work. This type of volunteering will depend on your own skills and experiences. It could include labelling specimens, archiving collections and packing items.

Public programmes

Volunteering with our public programmes may include becoming a volunteer guide, assisting with visitor surveys or helping with workshops.

  • Katty is a Collections Volunteer within our Natural Sciences department

    Katty is a Collections Volunteer within our Natural Sciences department

  • A group of Event Volunteers at a Museum Late

    A group of Event Volunteers at a Museum Late

  • David is a Public Programmes Volunteer with our tour guide group

    David is a Public Programmes Volunteer with our tour guide group

  • This team of volunteers is from the Edinburgh Decorative and Fine Art Society who have worked with our textile collections over a number of years.

    This team of volunteers is from the Edinburgh Decorative and Fine Art Society who have worked with our textile collections over a number of years.

  • David is a Collections Volunteer with our Natural Sciences department

    David is a Collections Volunteer with our Natural Sciences department

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What's in it for you?

  • Opportunities to develop valuable skills and experiences within the museum sector.
  • Enjoyment in doing something you like while meeting new, like-minded people.
  • Involvement with helping to support the work of National Museums Scotland.
  • Voluntary work experience which can be an invaluable addition to your CV.

Check out our current volunteering opportunities and contact our Volunteers Co-ordinator for more information.

Deborah Wilson
Volunteers Co-ordinator

E: d.wilson@nms.ac.uk T: 0131 247 4433

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Our volunteers

Find out what our volunteers have to say about their time with us, and meet some of our tour guides.

Meet our volunteers

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