The Science and Industry Museum is devoted to inspiring futures through ideas that change the world, from the Industrial Revolution to today and beyond. As part of the Science Museum Group, STEM engagement is at the heart of what we do. We inform, inspire and encourage learning on-site, as well as through outreach and online. The Learning team reveal the wonder of science by sharing authentic stories about our collection and facilitating and supporting the learning of children and adults.  
 
You will be supporting the Learning team in delivering these aims to Inspire Futures through engaging visitors with our collection of handling objects. You will connect visitors’ own experience with the historic collections on display by telling stories and provoking conversation with our handling collection.
 
The handling collection features historical items from printing blocks and cotton shuttles linking to our Textiles Gallery, to contemporary objects supporting upcoming family holiday programmes including a making themed Summer programme. 
 
As a Learning Object Handling Volunteer, you will gain and develop skills and experience in customer service, presenting and communicating to a variety of audiences including the Museum’s Science Capital informed learning approach and teamworking. As well as how to safely handle museum objects and finding out more about the museum’s collection and narrative themes. 
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:
•    Being a welcoming, friendly face for our visitors to engage with.
•    Delivering object handling sessions with a small collection of specially chosen objects linking to the programme and/or gallery themes and content.
•    Engaging with the gallery and/or programme by being knowledgeable about the content and sharing this with visitors. 
•    Engaging visitors with their knowledge of the objects and programme/gallery themes, and reciprocally learning from the people they meet.
•    Signposting visitors to related content to explore further and wider exhibitions and programming across the site to support their visit.
•    Taking care of your own and others’ health and safety, report any health and safety concerns, and help to ensure the safety of the objects in the exhibition. 
WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:
You will have…
•    Have a passion for interacting and engaging with the public, enjoying talking to a wide range of people from different backgrounds
•    Be friendly and happy to approach visitors
•    Have an interest in the museum, narrative themes and collections
•    Have an interest in museum learning environments/ learning outside the classroom
•    Be reliable, and a have a desire to deliver great customer service
•    Be able to demonstrate initiative and enjoy being part of a team
•    Enjoy learning new information and sharing this with others
It would be good if you have …
•    Have experience of working with the general public in a customer facing role
•    Have experience of working with families and young children
•    Have an enthusiastic and dedicated approach to volunteering
•    Want to gain more experience of being in a learning environment and museums
•    Want to gain more skills in this area
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
•    To volunteer in this role, you must be 18 or over and eligible to volunteer in the UK. Unfortunately, SMG is unable to act as a sponsor organisation if you do not have the appropriate visa.
•    This role is subject to a Disclosure Scotland basic criminal record check.
•    This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).