Are you looking to get involved in something new, with the opportunity to develop skills, meet new people, and get involved in something to give back to the community?
We’re currently looking to recruit new volunteers in various roles across the Brunel Museum!
To find out more about what volunteering at the Museum is like, what the Museum does and wants to achieve, and where volunteering might take you, you download a copy of our Volunteer Recruitment Pack here.
Our Talks and Tours volunteers will deliver a range of engaging talks and tours for different visitors — from Guided Tours of the Museum, to object-handling activities and outreach talks on subjects linked to our stories.
Responsibilities
Talks and tours volunteers deliver engaging talks and tours for different visitors.
- Provide a warm welcome to all visitors; assist with visitor queries and needs
- Introduce visitors to the Brunel Museum, the Thames Tunnel story, and other relevant histories by delivering 30-minute tours of the Museum
- Work to develop talks and tours which engage varied audiences, including families with children and non-UK visitors
- Deliver private group bookings outside of our ordinary opening hours
- Deliver outreach talks / presentations about the Tunnel and related themes
- Encourage and invite donations from visitors to support the Museum
- Attend periodic training to develop and maintain skills, including mandatory training e.g. in safeguarding; and fire awareness.
Skills and Qualifications
You don’t need specific skills, knowledge, or qualifications to be a Talks and Tours volunteer. We can provide resources to help you develop your knowledge and tours. Your enthusiasm and an interest in sharing stories with visitors is the key.
However, think about what skills you do have: almost anything could be useful for the varied programmes and activities we run.
For this role, these might include:
- Front of House skills
- Historical knowledge or interest
- Experience with children/teenagers
- Knowledge of accessibility
If you’re not sure whether your skills would be useful – get in touch to discuss!
We’re really keen to hear from a wide range of applicants from a wide range of backgrounds.
Time Commitment
- Volunteers are asked to be able to commit to at least one shift per month. The Museum is open to the public on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday each week for most of the year. We open each day during half-term, and on Saturdays and Sundays during November-January.
- We ask volunteers to arrange their shifts in advance, to help with operational planning.
How to Apply
Please apply by sending a short cover letter explaining why you’re interested in volunteering at the Museum, and which role(s) are of interest, to hello@thebrunelmuseum.com, with ‘Volunteer Recruitment 2025’ as the subject line.
If you’d like, you can also send a short CV – but this isn’t absolutely necessary.
The deadline for applications is Friday 28 November 2025.
Interview Process
Everyone whose applications look promising will be invited for an informal interview with the staff member responsible for volunteers. Talks and Tours Volunteers will be invited to attend a Guided Tour on Saturday 13 or Sunday 14 December.
Interviews will take place the week commencing Monday 15 December, in person at the Brunel Museum. Please let us know in your application if there are any dates or times you cannot make.
This isn’t meant to be a scary process. There’s no need to wear formal clothing (unless you want to!).
Interviews for Talks and Tours volunteers will involve a short presentation, giving you an opportunity to show off your skills in engagement and storytelling.
Find out More
Is there anything we can do to make the recruitment process more accessible and inclusive for you? Would you like more detail about a volunteer role?
If so, please contact us via hello@thebrunelmuseum.com for an informal chat with the staff member responsible for volunteers.