Volunteer call from museum

The National Emergency Services Museum is looking to sign up new volunteers in a variety of front-of-house and support roles.

This includes a team to help manage and maintain its collection of around 200 historic and vintage vehicles, volunteers to catalogue and record items within the museum’s collection, people to meet and greet some of the 30,000 visitors it welcomes each year.

They’re even looking for someone to drive a fire appliance for the museum’s ever-popular fire engine ride experience!

A week of promotional activity through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook is culminating on Saturday (June 8).

The museum is hosting its first-ever Explore Volunteering event between noon and 2pm.

The session aims to give people interested in volunteering a chance to explore the roles available, meet with current volunteers and take a tour of the museum’s historic home.

Holly Roberts, museum curator, said: “As an entirely self-funded museum we rely hugely on our fantastic volunteers, who are massive part of our ongoing success. But as we grow we’re really hoping to expand our volunteer team.

“There's lots of reasons people choose to volunteer, whether it’s for work experience, to meet new people or just pursue a passion or hobby.

“Where we’re different is that, because we’re a relatively small team, our volunteers really do get stuck in to every aspect of our museum and play a big part in our story.

“We’re also passionate advocatse of inclusive volunteering communities; we work alongside the Autism Centre for Supported Employment and other organisations in offering opportunities for those with additional needs.”

A fire engine that served in the Blitz, one of the UK’s last surviving horse-drawn ambulances and a full-sized lifeboat are just some of the treasures that visitors to the museum can discover.

Completed in 1900, the West Bar building that now houses the museum was one of the first purpose-built combined fire, police and ambulance stations. It housed innovative features such as a ‘drop pole’ and electric call-out system.

It was the brainchild of Chief Constable John Jackson and Chief Fire Officer William Frost.

Jackson recognised the need for a combined emergency services hub in the increasingly bustling city centre. He, Frost and architect Joseph Norton also took inspiration from a visit to the New York Fire Department in 1898.

*Potential volunteers can register for the Saturday session through Eventbrite or by emailing [email protected].

More details about the volunteer roles available are online at www.emergencymuseum.org.uk.