Museum Support Volunteers play a vital role in helping Lancashire’s historic sites thrive. Whether welcoming visitors, sharing stories about the buildings, assisting with events, or supporting behind-the-scenes activities, volunteers help create a warm and engaging experience for everyone. This role is a great opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills, and contribute to preserving and celebrating Lancashire’s rich heritage. Volunteers are part of a supportive and collaborative team, and their enthusiasm helps bring our museums to life.
At Helmshore Museum, we’re proud to shine a light on the incredible support from our volunteers— see below Alex’s story, a passionate and dedicated member of our Friday team.
Alex, 22, graduated from Queen Mary University of London in 2024 with a History degree, specialising in historical objects. Since joining us in October, she’s brought energy, curiosity, and a genuine love for museums to every corner of Helmshore.
Whether she’s helping in the café, assisting with deliveries, shadowing tours, or diving into conservation work, Alex is always ready to lend a hand. She played a key role in our deep clean during the winter closure, carefully dusting and assessing the condition of textiles produced by the mill—work that’s vital to preserving our heritage.
Her enthusiasm for collections has grown through hands-on experience, from grading historic textiles to exploring our archives. Alex’s suggestions have also shaped our shop offerings, including the addition of crochet items and an upcoming crochet event she’ll help run.
Volunteering here has helped Alex discover her dream: to work in museum collections and eventually manage a museum.
What makes Helmshore special for Alex? “The people,” she says. “It feels like a family. I’ve made real friends here, and I always look forward to Fridays.”
If you are interested in volunteering at one of our museums, please visit the opportunities page for more information.