Female IWM volunteer smiling while holding a folder with arm outstretched welcoming.
© IWM
Our team of volunteers engage visitors to IWM's five museums.

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. 

Our volunteering roles are now closed

IWM volunteer holding up clothing item from IWM collection explaining to three visitors.
© IWM
Our volunteers bring our collections and stories to life and answer visitor questions.

We will be opening up more opportunities to get involved again in spring 2025.

In the meantime, do visit us in branch and meet our volunteers.

Please continue to check this page for future volunteering opportunities with IWM.  

Type of roles available

  • IWM volunteer smiling at Second World War soldier while holding a No. 470 Acme Paratrooper Clicker from IWM's collection
    © IWM

    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)
  • Specialist veteran volunteer wearing camouflaged clothing placing helmet on child at IWM North
    © IWM

    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. 

  • A volunteer at work as part of the Hangar 5 conservation team at IWM Duxford
    © IWM

    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.

  • Woman at IWM Duxford stands in front of monument of soldiers and takes a photograph on her mobile phone.
    © IWM

    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. 

  • A volunteer at work, scanning images in an office
    © IWM

    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.

  • Five smiling preservation volunteers stood on staircase at IWM London, some holding preservation equipment.
    © IWM

    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

Please note our volunteering roles are now closed. We will be opening up more opportunities in spring 2025. In the meantime, do visit us in branch, meet our volunteers and check this page for future opportunities. 

More information

For more information on volunteering opportunities at IWM please contact the Volunteering and Engagement team at: [email protected].  

Volunteer Katya

Volunteering FAQ

We answer some of the common questions about volunteering with us.

Volunteer Norma in action

Meet Us

Hear from volunteers about their experiences with IWM and find out more about our volunteer led activities at our sites.

Volunteer David in action

Programmes

Find out more about the impact of volunteering at IWM and some of the programmes IWM has participated in.