London Volunteers in Museums Awards

by Emma Davies, Visitor Services Manager

This year, the Jewish Museum is extremely proud to be hosting the annual London Volunteers in Museums Awards in September. The LVMAs recognise the amazing work volunteers do across museums in London and are the culmination of months of blood, sweat and tears by the Awards Committee, on which I sit. Since the museum reopened in 2010, we have featured in the Going the Extra Mile, Best Team, Long Service and Special Youth categories. Last year, Yasmin Riley (pictured below, far right) won the Special Youth Award for her outstanding contribution to the museum since the age of 17. 

Our volunteer team, as with many other museums, is the lifeblood of the organisation. All visitors meet volunteers in our Galleries, Shop and on the Welcome Desk. In the first quarter of 2014 alone, our Visitor Services Volunteers have already given an astonishing 2,220 hours. Volunteers give our visitors a personal and insightful aspect to their visit and we are constantly overwhelmed by their continued support and passion for the museum.

This morning saw the official launch of the 2014 awards here at the Jewish Museum, as we were joined by some of last year’s winners, members of the organising committee and the Mayor’s Adviser for Volunteering, Team London, Charities and Sponsorship, Veronica Wadley. Last year’s event saw around 120 guests in attendance on HMS Belfast and this year it is hoped that there will be even more volunteers and supporters from the heritage community invitied. We look forward to this exciting event happening in our own museum. 

Last year’s award winners with Veronica Wadley at the 2014 LVMA launch