Hunters & Gathers Volunteers

2-3 Opportunities: We are looking for those completing D of E to volunteer with us through our structured Hunters and Gathers programme. Data Hunters and Story Gatherers: towards community curatorship is a unique project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Hunters and Gatherers is working with a new team of young volunteers to improve collections auditing and research, research significant, untold stories and develop community co-curation and engagement in new and exciting ways. Find out more here: Data Hunters and Story Gatherers | Hampshire Cultural Trust. Are you interested in looking after Hampshire's history and getting hands-on experience with collections? As collections volunteer you will have the opportunity to support our vital work of changing lives, through culture by working with our collections. You could find yourself working with our specialist collections team to document, categories and coordinate our collections using specialist tools. Using your training in collections care you may find yourself caring for our collections in line with venue and trust-wide collection management plans. Full training for all aspects of the role will be provided. What to expect: Our volunteer roles are designed to be tailored around you, your interests and your skills. Some of the things you could be up to include:

• You will take part in the Documentation Challenge where you will be tasked with updating the data on the objects your team successfully hunted. Beat the other teams by scoring points.
• Working with the key communities across our locations to gather varied histories and stories that make up our county, working with the programmes team to bring to life these stories in exhibitions. Working with our collections management team to catalogue, transcribe and coordinate our collections using our specialist system (MODS).
• Work with our collections management team to monitor and care for our varied collections across a specialist area or generally across all disciplines.
• Working with the venue manager, in line with the venue's collections care plan, to conduct collections care activities on exhibitions within the venue.
• Guide, mentor and support other volunteers (younger and neurodiverse) to develop, grow and learn alongside the venue team.
This is of course not exhaustive as your volunteering will evolve around you and your skillsets. Full training, guidance and support will be provided. All volunteers are giving detailed 1 day collections care and object handling training led by our collections team. From there they are regularly supervised and supported throughout their work with the collections.What skills do I need? Skills and Experience: Ideally to be comfortable in this volunteer role we think you will need to have:
• An appreciation and awareness of the delicate nature of our collections - Essential.
• An ability to comply with clear instructions and health and safety requirements - Essential.
• You must be comfortable with manual and often physical activities. Any existing knowledge or experience is hugely beneficial.
• As a result of volunteering in this role you will get:
• The chance to bring to life exciting exhibitions and memorable experiences. Experience in working with collections and exposure to behind the scenes of cultural management.
• The chance to work with and handle our historic cultural collection of nearly 2 million objects.
• Training in collections care and object handling
• The chance to support an innovative trail around collections management in a new way.
• A variety of volunteer benefits including free access to all HCT venues Looking to get stuck into something practical? Use your hands-on skills to make a huge impact on culture!
• Full training for all aspects of the role will be provided.
Expectations: We expect professionalism from all who are representatives of Hampshire Cultural Trust. Whilst conducting your role or any activity that may be considered to represent the Trust, you are expected to uphold our values and standards, working in alignment with our policies and expectations of conduct.