“Why did I decide to Volunteer?”

“As part of my Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s award, I chose to volunteer here at the museum. I enjoy history and volunteering at the museum has allowed me to explore about the amazing artifacts found in our area and even discover why certain practices or objects have been used or buried by people from our past.

Part of my volunteering has been writing articles about objects that people might miss or skip over normally, and going into depth about why they were so significant at their time. Doing this has allowed me to learn more about our history and how we have evolved over time, as well as how different cultures have mixed with ours to influence our ancestors and eventually create the familiar principles and beliefs we know today. Having had the time to look around the museum myself, writing and researching the objects within has given me the opportunity to be curious (possibly I’m just naturally nosy?) and ask questions such as: where did the object originate?; why was a particular component was used?; who would have influenced this?; what it was used for?; when was it introduced? However, volunteering has also given me the means to sate this curiosity and to share with others what I have discovered, (hopefully!) interesting them as well.

I also help with front of house, learning how the till works (but not handling cash because I’m under 16 (Year 10)), how I should greet people visiting and helping out with the shop. Understanding how to restock the shop and how the balance of items sold and the order of new stock works has helped me to be aware of how shops work and appreciate more what goes on behind scenes in the real world and in the museum that I visited as a child. Despite the prospect of doing stock seeming boring, I enjoyed the process as it felt like I had contributed towards the museum more than usual (also I felt really quite important holding the clipboard!).

Volunteering here has made me feel as though I am doing something for the community, – despite also feeling, quite selfishly, very, very pleased with myself for being a better person – as well as helping the staff here at the museum, and it is something I look forward to each week, telling my friends about what I do here with a smile on my face. So, yes, volunteering is definitely a great idea and everyone who is thinking about it should get involved, not just here at the museum, but anywhere.”

Sasha Minnis, Duke of Edinburgh Student