Working with Volunteers Advice and support
We offer advice and support to museums in the Southwest that work with volunteers.
How we can help
This advice can cover any area that involves working with volunteers from the planning stages of a volunteer programme through to recruitment, supporting and managing and developing your volunteers including all policies and procedures.
We can tailor this advice to suit you from a one-off phone call to an agreed amount of time spent with you at your museum or arranging a group information session. We can help answer questions, provide written/electronic guides and templates and signpost you to other useful information and organisations.
In the past we have provided museums with advice and support on everything from writing volunteer role descriptions, managing volunteer databases, dealing with issues, and how to retain volunteers.
For more information
Contact our volunteer co-ordinator at ramm.volunteer@exeter.gov.uk
A Framework for Volunteering – a free CD ROM
For a FREE copy (CD ROM and mini guide) of ‘A Framework for Volunteering’ which includes information, advice, examples and templates on everything you need to know about involving volunteers in your museum, please email ramm.volunteer@exeter.gov.uk with your name and address.
Rachel Ackerman in her own words
Rachel was RAMM's Volunteer Coordinator until May 2011.
How would you describe your role in working with museums across Devon?
My main role is to advise museums on the best way to recruit and look after their volunteers. A big part of this is always being on hand to offer support in helping the museums to manage their volunteers and to help resolve any issues they may have.
As Volunteer Coordinator what assistance can you provide to those museums who wish to make the most of their volunteers?
One of the most effective methods is to guide the museum through ‘The Volunteer Toolkit’ we’ve put together. This process helps train museums in how to most effectively: plan, recruit, manage, support and evaluate their volunteers.
In your experience how much of an impact can volunteers make to a museum?
They definitely make a huge impact. Many of the museums I work with are dependant upon the support of their volunteers. Without them we couldn’t do half of what we do.
Is there a particular example that springs to mind?
Topsham museum is a brilliant example of how much can be achieved by making the most of their volunteers.
The museum has benefited from being so proactive and being open to exploring new ideas a foresight that has paid off tremendously. Winning the support of over 160 volunteers has enabled the museum to open up and run a shop, a tearoom and a number of events throughout the year.
