Heritage Engagement Volunteer

Grand Junction at St Mary Magdalene’s Church is a vibrant venue for community, arts, and culture, housed in a beautiful Grade I listed building run by Paddington Development Trust. We offer a wide-ranging programme that includes health and wellbeing classes for the community, after-school clubs for children, family arts and theatre, a heritage programme of talks, tours and exhibitions and a collaborative programme of music, arts and performance.

We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join us for an exciting new heritage project that brings the history of our building and local area to life in fresh, engaging ways. As a Heritage Engagement Volunteer, you will receive training in interpretation skills and work closely with our team and local community to research and develop new walking tours and digital content. This project will involve exploring the stories of St Mary Magdalene’s Church and the surrounding area, with a focus on incorporating voices from the local community. We will be using innovative digital tools alongside physical interpretation to bring the stories of our building to life to create a more engaging and inclusive experience for all.

Where?

Grand Junction at St Mary Magdalene’s, Rowington Close, London W2 5TF

(Some aspects of this role can be carried out remotely)

When?

This project will run from October 2024 – July 2025.

We recommend a commitment of around 3 hours per week, with flexibility to fit your schedule. This includes a monthly group meeting.

What will the role involve?

Working under the supervision of Grand Junction staff, the Heritage Engagement Volunteer will:

• Research and collect information on the history of our Grade I listed building and the North Paddington area.
• Engage with local people, organisations, and community groups to collect stories and ensure community voices are reflected in the project.
• Contribute creative ideas for new ways to interpret and present the building’s history, both digitally and physically.
• Work with other Heritage Engagement Volunteers to share, interpret, edit, and curate research findings for use in tours and digital content.
• Participate in a monthly meeting to discuss progress, share insights, and contribute to the development of new interpretive materials.
• Help to create engaging content based on historical research
• Help to identify opportunities to spread the word about Grand Junction’s heritage programme.
• Attend training and development sessions to build expertise in interpretation, digital tools, and heritage storytelling.

Who are we looking for?

This role is suited to people who:

• Have an interest in history, architecture, or community storytelling
• Have an interest researching and discovering the past, with a curiosity for local history and heritage, or a willingness to learn more
• Have an interest in creating engaging content to bring history to life for the public.
• Are clear and confident communicators.
• Are organised and methodical
• Are comfortable working independently but also enjoy collaborating with others to share ideas and research.
• Are looking to develop new skills and gain experience, while making a positive impact in the local community.

Our commitment to you

We value the contribution that volunteers make to our work. Volunteers in this role will:

• Receive ongoing training, including a detailed volunteer induction and training specific to the role
• Receive travel expenses (up to £10 per shift), in accordance with the PDT volunteer policy
• Receive ongoing support from Grand Junction’s Volunteer Manager, and other Grand Junction staff
• Be supported to use their volunteering to access employment-focused opportunities, such as advice and signposting, where relevant
• Be invited to regular volunteer social gatherings, community events, and talks.

What you’ll gain

This role is a great opportunity to:

• Develop hands-on experience in heritage research, digital content creation, and community engagement.
• Learn how to use innovative digital tools, such as QR codes and augmented reality, to create interactive and accessible heritage experiences.
• Build skills in curation, storytelling, and interpretation.
• Develop new skills and confidence
• Play a key role in reinterpreting heritage in fresh, inclusive ways.
• Meet like-minded people and make friends!

Additional information

• Volunteers will at times require computer and internet access at home to undertake this role. If this is a problem, please contact us to discuss ways in which we may be able to support with this.
• Volunteers must be prepared to undertake pre-offer checks, including references.

Interested?

Great! We look forward to receiving your application. To apply, please complete our short application form and tell us why you’re interested in joining our diverse volunteering team. For more information, please contact: volunteering@grandjunction.org.uk.

The next meeting will be on Friday 14 February, 14.00 – 16.00