Volunteering at IWM North

I wrote this for the 20th IWM Volunteer Newsletter published in December 2012. It tells my IWM story from being just a visitor, to a volunteer and then onto an employee. I hope you enjoy it!:

My IWM North story is an eclectic one. I started out, like most people, as a visitor. I visited the museum again and again exploring the main exhibition space and many of the fantastic special exhibitions – some of my favourites being Animals at War, War Correspondents, and the Horrible Histories’ Terrible Trenches. But it was when I was studying History at the University of Glasgow that my relationship with the museum developed into something more. I needed to conduct an oral history interview as a part of a course, and I had chosen to interview someone about food rationing during the Second World War. I’d had difficulty finding an interviewee but in the eleventh hour, IWM North salvaged my project and supplied me with the perfect interviewee, volunteer Norma. Norma delved into her childhood to supply me with what she could remember about life during the war and her experiences of rationing all the way into the 1950s. I could not have asked for a more enigmatic, interesting, or sincere person to interview. Whilst chatting to Norma post-interview, I asked about her volunteering at the museum and she painted such a magnificent picture of the experience that I left the interview and the museum quite envious of her role. Not long after, I decided to try out volunteering at my favourite museum for myself.

One Easter holiday I helped out in the learning studio and vowed that I’d volunteer more regularly in the future. So, in the summer of 2011, after completing my first year studying towards an MA in the U.S, I was back in Manchester and decided to fulfil that vow and volunteer once a week. It was one of the most positive experiences I have ever had! With the help of my mentors Linda and Cameron, I learned lots more about the museum and the objects on display and those we handled with visitors - I certainly learned more about WWII gas masks than most exhibits would reveal. I soon felt at ease within the museum even if it did take me several weeks to master Libeskind’s floor plan! I gained an insight into the museum I could not have got from solely visiting the museum or from reading books on museums; being able to interact with visitors allowed me to understand what messages and lessons they took from the museum, what they wanted out of it, and most importantly hear their varied experiences of war. It was not only interacting with visitors, but working and meeting the diverse array of volunteers that made the experience so insightful. To be working alongside veterans and fellow history enthusiasts meant that there was a warm and welcoming atmosphere at all times, and as we came from all walks of life we each added our own distinct personality to the museum. My experiences at the museum inspired me to find out more so I decided to take some museum studies and material culture modules when back studying for my History MA, and from there decided to pursue a career in the museum world.

When I was permanently back in the UK and looking for full-time work I reprised my role on the museum floor! This time round I volunteered more regularly, which meant I got better acquainted with the friendly and helpful staff, and was asked to sit on the First World War Centenary Meetings. This enabled me to get yet more access to the workings of IWM and get a better understanding about its future goals and objectives. After several months of job-hunting I managed to get some interviews and my volunteering was definitely an asset to my CV. At one interview the employer commented that it was refreshing to see me being proactive by volunteering and getting out there and doing something when the current employment situation meant it was hard to progress and easy to wallow. My motivation as a volunteer was always my love of history and IWM North, but the positive consequences of volunteering cannot be ignored. Just as the interviewer’s comment shows, employers appreciate and value individuals who volunteer. Volunteering shows that you are dedicated and passionate as well as eager and reliable. Without volunteering at IWM North, I doubt I would have landed my dream job as Collections Management Project Officer at IWM London in October this year.

And that was the end of my volunteering days, and the next stage of my relationship with IWM North; I’m now a colleague from London. It was a delight to volunteer at IWM North; I got to meet new people, learn new things, and strengthen my CV. The volunteer programme is well organised (thanks to Danielle Garcia) and available to anyone; to those who love history or want a taste of working in a museum, to those who just want to get out of the house and improve their job prospects, or veterans who want to share their experiences with interested visitors. It was an extremely beneficial experience for me, clearly shown by my getting a job in Collections Management, but also rewarding in another sense; I always felt that my ideas and contributions were valued by the museum and most importantly I helped visitors grasp how war shapes lives.