Museum Volunteer

• Groam House Museum

• VO101877

About Us:
Groam House Museum is a unique, volunteer-led museum located in the beautiful village of Rosemarkie, Scotland, dedicated to preserving and showcasing Pictish and Celtic heritage. We are committed to making the museum an accessible, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable space for everyone. As part of our volunteer team, you'll have the opportunity to engage with visitors, care for our collections, and be part of our efforts to tell the stories of our collections in a way that honours Scotland’s diverse heritage.
Our volunteers play a crucial role in helping us achieve our goals, and we are looking for people from all backgrounds to join us. Whether you are passionate about history, art, sustainability, or engaging with the community, we have roles for you!

Inclusive Opportunities:
At Groam House, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, ability, or background. We are committed to making necessary adjustments to ensure that all volunteers can participate in the museum's work.

Available Volunteer Roles:
We have a range of opportunities available to suit different skills and interests. Some of the ways you can contribute include:
• Visitor Engagement & Front-of-House:
Be the friendly face that greets visitors at the museum. Help visitors engage with the exhibits, answer questions, and provide information about the museum’s collections, sustainability initiatives, and inclusive programming. Training on the museum’s history, collections, and accessibility initiatives will be provided.
• Collections Care & Documentation:
Assist with cataloguing, handling, and caring for the museum’s collections, including the famous Pictish cross-slab and George Bain Collection. You will help document objects, prepare items for exhibitions, and monitor the condition of objects, with a strong focus on sustainable preservation methods.
• Exhibition Support:
Help with the setup and takedown of exhibitions, including labelling, display preparation, and layout design. Your input will support inclusive and decolonised narratives within exhibitions, ensuring they are representative of diverse communities.
• Fundraising Support:
Support fundraising initiatives, including events, online sales, and campaigns to raise funds for conservation, accessibility, and sustainability projects.
• Marketing Support & Social Media:
Assist in promoting the museum’s mission, exhibitions, and events to a wider audience. Help develop engaging marketing campaigns, draft press releases, and help with our website. You’ll play a key role in expanding our digital reach by creating and scheduling posts on social media platforms, designing promotional materials, and collaborating on creative strategies to attract diverse visitors and enhance our visibility. Volunteers with a flair for storytelling and an interest in inclusive outreach are especially welcome.
• Gardening & Groundskeeping:
If you enjoy being outdoors, you can help maintain the museum’s small garden area and contribute to creating an inviting and sustainable space. You could also support our participation in local environmental projects such as community gardening and biodiversity initiatives.
• Translation & Multilingual Support:
Assist visitors from diverse backgrounds by providing translation services or helping create multilingual materials. We are keen to ensure that information about the museum, its collections, and its events is accessible to everyone, including non-English speakers.
• Event & Workshop Assistant:
Help plan and run special events, talks, and workshops at the museum. This could involve everything from setting up the space, welcoming guests, and supporting the delivery of activities that focus on Pictish history, local traditions, and sustainability themes. Volunteers with an interest in inclusivity and accessibility will be particularly welcome to help us design events that everyone can enjoy.
• Digital Support:
If you have skills in graphic design or digital media, help create engaging posters, brochures, and promotional materials for museum events and exhibitions. You’ll play a role in ensuring that our outreach is visually appealing, accessible, and reflective of our commitment to sustainability and inclusion.
• Admin Support:
If you enjoy organising and streamlining processes, your help is invaluable in the day-to-day operations of the museum. This can include creating and maintaining rotas for volunteers, managing bookings for events and workshops, updating databases, or assisting with correspondence. Your administrative skills will ensure the smooth running of our activities and support our commitment to delivering an inclusive and well-organized experience for all.

Experience required

We welcome volunteers with various skills and interests. You don’t need prior experience in the museum or heritage sector—just a passion for history, culture, sustainability, or community engagement. Some of the qualities and skills we’re looking for include:
• Interest in history, heritage, and cultural preservation
• Passion for sustainability and environmental advocacy
• Enthusiasm for engaging with people and creating inclusive spaces
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Creativity and a keen eye for detail (for design or exhibitions)
• Willingness to learn and collaborate as part of a diverse team

Travel details

PARKING
There is free parking off the High Street close to the museum.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
There is a frequent local bus service from Inverness / Cromarty. The bus stop is on the High Street close to the museum. See stagecoachbus.com

ACCESS
Some parts of the museum are not accessible to all – there is no lift to the upper floor gallery.

Travel expenses

As a volunteer, this is an unpaid role; however, we do offer reimbursement for reasonable expenses:
• Travel Reimbursement: For travel to and from the museum, we provide mileage reimbursement or public transport costs:
o If the journey is over 10 miles from your home, we reimburse standard mileage rates unless public transport is a suitable and accessible alternative.
o In cases where public transport is convenient, we reimburse the equivalent transport cost, even if you choose to drive. However, if public transport is impractical (e.g., bus schedules causing long delays), we reimburse mileage instead.
• Other Expenses: Other costs directly related to your trustee duties can be reimbursed with receipts or evidence.
We aim to ensure that financial constraints are not a barrier to participation in supporting Groam House Museum.

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