Join us on Saturday 25th January as we open the museum to people who are interested in volunteering with us!
We will be open from 10am to 12pm, giving people the opportunities to look around the museum and hear about the various volunteer positions we have available. Some of our current volunteers will also be at the museum to answer any questions you may have and talk about their experiences volunteering with us.
Our museum relies on the generosity of volunteers to keep our doors open and our exhibits running. If you're looking for a way to give back to your community, consider volunteering your time with us. You'll have the opportunity to help us run events, guide visitors through the cells, assist the curatorial team, maintain collections, and be a friendly face at the front desk. We offer roles to suit all levels of experience, allowing you to develop your skills and contribute your knowledge. Join us and become a valued member of our team!
About The Bradford Police Museum
The Bradford Police Museum is an independent museum and registered charity governed by a board of trustees and run by a team of enthusiastic volunteers. We are an independent museum, a registered charity and we currently received Arts Council England accreditation. Highly rated by TripAdvisor and praised by The Times newspaper in 2023, the museum is seeking new volunteers across a range of exciting roles to continue to expand our offers and prepare for the City of Culture 2025 year.
The museum is based in the heart of Bradford and offers visitors a guided tour of the wonderfully preserved Victorian cells and courtroom, along with our gallery displaying part of our extensive collection. We are also the only police museum in West Yorkshire and one of a few in the country with its own fleet of historic police vehicles
We also have a curatorial team working to preserving and maintain our ever-growing collection, contributing to our central aim of preserving and protecting the history and heritage of policing and telling the story of law and order in Bradford from the mid 19th Century to the present day.
Our Volunteer Roles
As the city heads towards the 2025 City of Culture Year, with weekly events taking place in Centenary Square, the museum is seeking to recruit a number of enthusiastic volunteers to join our team. We have a variety of roles to suit all skills, experience and interests!
Curatorial Team Volunteers
Being part of the curatorial team involves assisting in the curation of our ever-growing collection. You will also help to identify and catalogue our unique collection making sure exhibits are safe and stored securely in the right conditions, helping visitors interpret and enjoy the exhibits and collections. This role will allow you to get ‘hands on’ with exhibits, developing your research skills to bring together permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Tour Guide Volunteers
As a volunteer tour guide, you will guide visitors round the Victorian cells, which formed part of the original police station, together with a visit to the beautifully preserved Victorian Court Room, explaining the history and heritage of policing in Bradford from the early 19th Century onwards.
Front of House & Gallery Assistant Volunteers
Volunteering with the Front of House team involves welcoming visitors to the museum, checking them in for tours, providing general assistance to visitors and fellow volunteers on the day, supporting the front desk and selling items from the shop.
Visitor Engagement Officer Volunteers
As a VEO, you will be the welcoming face of the museum, dressed in period-appropriate Victorian attire. This unique role involves interacting with the public, promoting the museum's fascinating exhibits, and encouraging visitors to explore Bradford's rich history. During Bradford's City of Culture year, Centenary Square will be bustling with events and increased footfall, providing an exciting opportunity for VEOs to engage with a diverse audience and share the museum's offerings.
Museum Players (Volunteer Actors)
We are seeking talented and passionate volunteer actors to bring our historic Trial by Jury court re-enactments to life. Our trial by jury events held in the City Hall Victorian courtroom are immensely popular with the public and we are looking to expand our offer. If you love history, theatre, and engaging with the public, this is the perfect opportunity for you. As a member of the Bradford Police Museum Players, you will play a vital role in educating and entertaining audiences from all walks of life.
Vehicle Fleet Volunteers
The Bradford Police Museum owns a selection of vehicles that are kept at Keighley Bus Station. We are continually looking for volunteers to perform a variety of roles within the vehicle fleet team.
- Vehicle Fleet Mechanic
This role involves ensuring vehicles are mechanically sound and safe for intended use. This will require maintenance, servicing and repairs as economically as possible. To advise fleet manager on commercial repairs where necessary in terms of best value.
- Vehicle Fleet Driver
Volunteering as a Vehicle Fleet Driver involves safely driving or riding the cars and/or motorbikes to and from museum or 3rd party events. To stay with them during the event ensuring they are safely displayed to the public with no risk of harm loss or damage to the fleet or members pf the public.
Why Volunteer with us?
- As a responsible organisation we offer full training in an exciting environment together with ongoing support.
- Learn new skills that are hugely valued in the workplace such as teamwork, communication, using your initiative and building your confidence.
- Boost your CV.
- Get involved in your community, make friends and work alongside a friendly workforce of like-minded volunteers.
Time Commitment
The museum is open to the public from March to November on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 3:30pm.
- For roles such as Tour Guides, Front of House & Gallery Assistants and Visitor Engagement Officers, we ask that you are able to commit weekly, on either Friday or Saturday (or both!).
- If you are interested in the curatorial team, you would need to be available on Wednesday between 10am to 2pm.
- For the role of Museum Players, you would be required to help with our special events that happen once or twice a month.
- For a role within the Vehicle Fleet Team, this is more flexible and requires volunteers to help with special events both at the museum and externally.
Training & Support
We recognise that most volunteers would benefit from some training to fulfil this role and offer a comprehensive induction course to all new starters. Volunteers receive ongoing support and the opportunity to work with a mentor to help, identify and develop skills and gain experience. There will be regular volunteer and development meetings.
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