Jewish Museum London is now delivering our learning programmes and collections displays in the community & around the UK. Come and visit us at Swiss Cottage Library from 7 March to 4 April.

#VolunteersWeek – Q&A with Emma Davies, Head of Volunteering

How long have you worked at the museum? 
For four
and a half years. I’ve always had a
passion for museums and wanted to work in the sector. Like a lot of people I first
started working in Front of House and in this establishment FOH means working
with volunteers and I fell into volunteer management. It was unexpected but working
with volunteers is the best part of my job.

What is your favourite object from the collection and why?
I volunteered for four years with our curatorial department while working, helping with exhibition research and installation and collections care. My favourite object is a cream satin wedding dress decorated with sequins from 1934. When I was with the curatorial department, I helped get the dress out of storage, dress the mannequin and photograph, I think it’s a beautiful dress

image

What sort of people come to
volunteer with you?
We currently
have a team of circa 120 volunteers who work split shifts across the week, they
are a real asset to the museum and I’m extremely proud of the high level of
visitor experience they offer. 

We get really positive feedback about the
personal touch that volunteers offer to visitors. They really are the heart of
the museum and have an unbelievable wealth of knowledge to share. The
volunteers help to bring the collection to life and regularly deliver impromptu
tours for visitors.

What do you like about working with
volunteers?
 
I like working with
diverse people, I’ve met people I never would have crossed paths with before and
I’m really grateful for that. Our
volunteers range from 19-93 and they are all extremely dedicated and loyal to
the museum and a wonderful mixture of personalities.

No two days are the same, each
working day at the museum has an entirely different character depending on the
volunteers and I never tire of their stories and insights.

What attracts volunteers at the
museum?
We have a very high
retention rate among volunteers and I believe that’s down to their passion and
affinity for our collection. For many of our volunteers the museum tells their
personal stories and history which evokes a real sense of loyalty.

What is it like working with volunteers?

Volunteers have different motivations
and you have to communicate with them in a different way you would staff.
Sadly, I see too many organisations demanding a certain return from their
volunteers where any time or input volunteers can give you should be viewed as a
bonus.

imageEmma (left) launching the London Volunteers in Museums Awards 2014 at the museum

How do you thank volunteers for their
time and effort?

We try to say thank
you in a variety of ways; this year we took a coach trip to Ramsgate to visit
some sights of Jewish interest and we are also planning a volunteer/staff quiz
night to bring people together. It’s really important for us to demonstrate
just how vital and recognised the volunteer’s efforts are.

Why should people volunteer here? 
When I graduated from my MA in Ancient
History I looked for volunteer opportunities across the sector and found one
here, so I started volunteering here before I got a job here. 

If you’re a student and
looking for a way into the sector then volunteering is absolutely key. It helps
to set you apart and offers a real insight into how museums operate,
irrespective of which department you desire to work in, as you get more of a sense of how the organisation functions and can try your hand at different things.

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