Extraordinary Everyday People
Join our team of over 1,000 volunteers across our five sites. Our volunteers help bring to life the stories of our collections, promote great visitor experience and care for our many significant objects.
You don’t have to be a history buff, just enjoy getting involved and support our mission in telling the stories that matter.
We value diversity and encourage volunteers from all sections of the community.
Our opportunities are designed to be meaningful and enjoyable; we want to ensure you can give as much or as little as you like to our cause.
Applications are now open for:
- Front of House roles at Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast and IWM Duxford
- Film and Photography models across all IWM branches
We typically recruit for volunteers three times per year. If the role you are looking for is not available, then please do check back on our website.
Type of roles available
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1. Supporting our visitors (Generalist)
Ideal for those who love meeting and talking to new people.
Share your passion and enthusiasm by providing a warm welcome to our visitors, bringing our collections and stories to life and answering visitor questions.
Roles include:
- Discover (visitor welcome / planning)
- Schools Meet and Greet
- Insight (short talks/ activities)
- Activator (promoting IWM programmes/support)
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2. Sharing your knowledge (Specialist)
Are you a veteran or eyewitness of war and conflict? Share your stories, knowledge and experiences and change the way people think and feel about conflict.
Specialist volunteers are also involved in our ‘We Were There’ events that take place during selected school holidays.
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3. Supporting our collections (Technical)
Ideal for those looking to gain or develop ‘hands on’ experience with collections.
Working with our Conservation, Curatorial and Preservation teams to protect, preserve, conserve and make accessible our collections now and for future generations. Ideal for those with specific aspirations to develop or maintain skills in fields such as collections, conservations and care.
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4. Supporting our research (Digital)
Ideal for those who wish to connect digitally from home. This volunteering suits those in full time study or work or those who live abroad.
IWM's War Memorials Register is working to compile a free and publicly accessible online record of all war memorials in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man together with the names of the individuals who they commemorate.
With your support we can ensure that the Register’s information is well researched, accurate and comprehensive.
Recruitment process
If you need support creating an account or would like to discuss how we can assist you in the volunteer role please email: [email protected]. Please let us know which branch you would like to sign up for and a member of the Volunteering and Engagement team will be in touch.
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1. Complete an application form
You will be asked to set up a My Impact account. This is our volunteer recruitment portal. The portal allows us to communicate with you and enables you to book on to training sessions and choose your shifts.
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2. Come along to an information and selection session
We will invite you to a session (online or in person) where you can find out more about the role and whether its right for you. We will then begin our recruitment check process.
How to apply
Click on the IWM branch you would like to volunteer at and you will be taken to our MyImpact page, our volunteer portal, to complete an application form.