“I grew up in Australia and have lived in a few places around the world. I’m a mid-life career changer and moved to Manchester last year to attend library school. I had taken the opportunity to tour Chetham’s Library when I first visited the city, and when I saw the opportunity to volunteer I jumped at the chance! I’ve been volunteering since October 2018.
Chetham’s is one of my favourite places in Manchester – nearly every tour, I meet a first-time visitor to the library who has grown up in the area but either didn’t know the library was here, or didn’t realise they could visit so easily. It makes all of us feel like old-school Mancunians and newcomers to the city at the same time!
“The library is a gorgeous, energising space. I love the smell and the light. My favourite object to tell visitors about is the small, intact chained library in the reading room. It’s one of five that Humphrey Chetham commissioned for churches in the area, and seems to capture visitors’ imaginations as much as it does mine.
I often get to have pleasant conversations with folks from around Manchester and around the world. Some people have just stumbled across the library, others have made a kind of pilgrimage to see the library in general – or the Marx and Engels alcove in particular.
Most importantly, I get to share in visitors’ enthusiasm for the beautiful space. One of my favourite moments is when, ascending the staircase to the library, we turn the corner—I usually hear one or more versions of “wow!” as visitors get their first glimpse of the library.
If you’re thinking of volunteering here, I would say: do it! If you have a passion for talking about interesting places and history, like to meet new people, and don’t mind walking around for a few hours at a time, Chetham’s Library offers a wonderful opportunity.”
“The library is a gorgeous, energising space. I love the smell and the light. It seems to capture visitors’ imaginations as much as it does mine.“
Volunteering at Chetham’s Library
We’re always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our friendly team. If you enjoy meeting people from all walks of life, and share our passion for providing an excellent welcome to visitors to our historic library, then becoming a Visitor Engagement volunteer could be perfect for you.
-
The role
Visitor Engagement Volunteers
Could you be part of our team?
We’re looking for people with a love of history and heritage who enjoy meeting people, sharing information about the Library and listening to the stories our visitors bring. It’s an active role and involves being outside in all weathers some of the time, as well as spending time in the wonderful environment of the seventeenth-century library and medieval buildings.
-
what's involved
Visitor Engagament volunteers generally work shifts meeting visitors from the gate and escorting them to the Library.
Working alongside 1-2 additional volunteers to provide a smooth operation guiding visitors from the security gate to and from the library, and coordinating large groups around the building.The role can be physically demanding and although Chetham’s Library will make all reasonable accommodations for our volunteers where possible, it will involve being outside to meet our visitors each hour.
-
what's required
If you’re outgoing, have a confident disposition and the ability to ‘think on one’s feet’ then this is the role for you!
No specific level of educational training is required, although a strong interest in history and the ability to develop and communicate subject knowledge a clear advantage.
The Library shares the site with a school therefore all our volunteers are required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check, as well as Chetham’s School of Music enhanced clearance procedures.
Current opportunities
We’re partnered with some of the most prestigious cultural venues in Manchester.
-
Object Handling Volunteer – Science & Industry Museum
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 Read more…
-
Homebased Helpline Call Taker Volunteer
Do you like helping and talking to people? Do you have a few hours a week to spare? Would you like to volunteer from Home, yet still be part Read more…
-
Community Fundraising Volunteer
At Livingstone Tanzania Trust we support communities to breakdown those barriers so that their young people have the opportunity to reach their full educational potential. Volunteers needed to support Read more…
-
Volunteer Coordinator Supporter – Read Easy
Read Easy UK is a national charity which provides free, confidential one-to-one reading coaching for adults from trained volunteers, through locally-run, affiliated volunteer groups. Read Easy Wythenshawe currently has Read more…
-
Literacy Specialist – Read Easy
Read Easy UK is a national charity which provides free, confidential one-to-one reading coaching for adults from trained volunteers, through locally-run, affiliated volunteer groups. Read Easy Wythenshawe has been Read more…
-
Volunteer Content Creator – Hullo
Hullo are a national non-profit organisation. Conversation is at the heart of everything we do. You can chat with our volunteers about anything at all. Our phone lines are Read more…
-
Fundraising Assistant – Hullo
Hullo are a national non-profit organisation. Conversation is at the heart of everything we do. You can chat with our volunteers about anything at all. Our phone lines are Read more…
-
Safeguarding Champion
Read Easy UK is a national charity which provides free, confidential one-to-one reading coaching for adults from trained volunteers, through locally-run, affiliated volunteer groups. Read Easy Wythenshawe has been Read more…
-
Peer Support Facilitator
Have you been Bereaved by Suicide? Do you have a desire to help other people who have also been Bereaved by Suicide? Are you comfortable listening to the experiences Read more…
-
Retail Stock Room Volunteer
Here's a little bit more about us: The BHF is here to Beat Heartbreak Forever. We are working towards a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory Read more…
-
Voluntary Team Leader for volunteers
The Widows Empowerment Trust is a charity dedicated to tackling loneliness and social isolation within the widowed community We feel that no one should have to grieve alone which Read more…
-
Dementia Group Volunteer
Together Dementia Support is a Manchester charity supporting people to live positively with Dementia. Role Description The Group Volunteer is an assistant position. You will arrive 30mins approx Read more…
-
Cracking Good Food Volunteer
Cracking Good Food launched in 2010, with the aim of encouraging and supporting more people to cook affordable, seasonal and nutritious homemade food from scratch. Driven by our belief Read more…
-
BAME support
About Us Home Start Manchester Work To Help & Support Families During Times Of Need! About the role: All our volunteers must be parents themselves or have parenting experience. Read more…
-
Kidscan Collection Volunteer
Help raise money for vital childhood cancer research Are you confident and outgoing with a passion for fundraising? Do you love to socialise and meet people from all different Read more…
-
Phone Volunteer
Hullo are a national non-profit organisation and conversation is at the heart of everything we do. Being a phone volunteer with us at Hullo would primarily consist of chatting Read more…
-
Festival and Event Welfare
W.E.L.Safe CIC is a not for profit organisation that provides confidential and non-judgemental information and support around issues such as drugs and alcohol, sexual health, mental health and wellbeing Read more…
-
Inclusion Ambassador
At Healthwatch Manchester we are aware of disparities between health and social care services for protected groups and inclusion health groups. This role has been developed to help us Read more…
-
Volunteer with Cancer Research UK
WE NEED EVENT DAY VOLUNTEERS After a year where vital cancer trials have been delayed, the Race for Life is more important than ever. We couldn't make these events Read more…
-
Race For Life Event Volunteer – Cancer Research UK
Each year over 700,000 people join the fight against cancer by taking part in an event and fundraising in aid of Cancer Research UK, they can't cross the finish Read more…
-
One Manchester Gardening Club
One Manchester Volunteering Programme A volunteering programme following a full growing season at Platt Fields Market Garden. The sessions will be every Thursday from 10:00AM-4:00PM with a catered lunch Read more…
-
Manchester Cathedral Welcomer
As a Cathedral welcomer you are the first person to meet and greet our visitors to Manchester. We are proud of the warm welcome our visitors receive, whether they Read more…
-
Literacy Champion
As part of Read Manchester, we are looking for people in Manchester to become Literacy Champions in their local communities. What is a Literacy Champion? Literacy Champions want to Read more…
-
Manchester Day – Event Volunteers
On Sunday 19 June, tens of thousands of people will fill the streets to celebrate our fantastic city as Manchester Day returns. We are looking for enthusiastic people to Read more…
-
Manchester Day – Creative Volunteers
On Sunday 19 June, tens of thousands of people will fill the streets to celebrate our fantastic city as Manchester Day returns. We are looking for enthusiastic people to Read more…
-
Business Development Support – Hullo
Hullo are a national non-profit organisation. Conversation is at the heart of everything we do. You can chat with our volunteers about anything at all. Our phone lines are Read more…
-
Power Up- Event Support Volunteer
Power Up is back for 2022! We are looking for a team of enthusiastic volunteers, with an interest in gaming. Volunteers will act as event hosts, helping to ensure Read more…
-
Planting Stories: Garden Volunteer
The Science and Industry Museum is currently going through a transformative period of masterplan projects that includes: The Power Hall (upper yard), The 1830 Warehouse and the new Special Read more…
-
Manchester Jewish Museum Volunteers
Manchester Jewish Museum are recruiting for new volunteers!Do you want to be part of a brand new museum? Do you want to help bring people together and share Jewish stories Read more…
-
Reading Nature’s Library
Help Manchester Museum discover the treasures in its collection and help us unlock this information and release our collection’s potential. This is an exciting opportunity to volunteer from home with Read more…