Would you like to become a Volunteer?
We would be delighted if you would like to join our wonderful team of volunteers at Englesea Brook. You could help with any of the following, or perhaps you have special skills you could offer? Please scroll down to see the various activities you could undertake to support us.
Shop and Tearoom
Volunteers in this area are the first point of contact when visitors arrive. You will offer a warm welcome in the shop, offer them a self-guided tour leaflet – and explain that entrance is free, but donations are welcome! Shop sales will also be part of your role and you can help visitors find souvenirs and gifts for friends and family, or books giving more insight into Primitive Methodism.
Front of house volunteers will receive training from experienced volunteers. Once you feel confident you can agree a regular slot on our rota with Ruth. At times you may also be asked whether you can fill in when other volunteers are unavailable.
Events
During special events we will need help to put up and take down items such as gazebos and tables, monitoring the parking and ensuring visitor safety. We publish our programme at the start of the season so you can see exactly when we might need your help.
Guides
If you have an interest in history and are a confident public speaker then you would enjoy being one of our tour guides, telling visitors the story of Primitive Methodism, the founders, and the impact on the social history of the UK and beyond. You will receive training and also receive a Volunteers Handbook and Guides’ Notes filled with the key information you need to tell the Primitive Methodist story.
For pre-booked groups you will be asked to come at a specific time on the day of the visit and will work with staff to give a great visitor experience. We also offer self-guided tours and therefore we welcome volunteers who would like to be on hand to answer questions from our visitors.
Librarian
In this vital role, the volunteer librarian manages this nationally significant collection. The role will enhance the current digital resource, cataloguing rare pamphlets and hymnals using Excel, ensuring these primary sources remain accessible to researchers and the Methodist community.
The librarian role is very flexible, with a time commitment to suit you. It’s a treasure trove, and as librarian you are responsible for the physical care of the collection and identifying “hidden gems” for museum displays.
Book Sales
Alsager Book Emporium, based in Alsager about 3 miles from the museum, is a major fundraiser. Join the friendly team of volunteers there to make our visitors feel welcome! Your main role involves helping customers find books in the vast selection on offer. You’ll also get hands-on with our wonderful collection of books—sorting donations, moving stock from the sheds, and keeping our shelves looking well-stocked and well-organized.
For more information, visit our Alsager Book Emporium page.
Gardening
If you have an interest in gardens and gardening then you can join in helping to maintain the tranquil grounds for visitors to enjoy. There are several sections to our gardens – the patio area, reflecting the herbal remedies of the time, the graveyard, and the Peace Garden. As with any garden, it can absorb as much or as little time as you can give, hours to suit you. Tools will be provided, and there is scope to bring your own ideas too.
Maintenance
If you have a knack for practical work then you can join the team who help with the maintenance of the Chapel, museum and cottage. Historic buildings require a lot of love, care and attention – there’s always something to do, painting, DIY, mending, oiling locks!
Remote Volunteering
Not all our volunteers live locally. Some undertake vital information-sharing roles such as updating and maintaining the Community Archive www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk or writing social media posts to publicise all that goes on at the Chapel and Museum. At Englesea Brook, we are committed to making as much information about the Primitive Methodists as freely available as possible, and it is thanks to our team of volunteers that we have built a very popular and well used resource.
Collections Care
As part of this team you will help to care for the items we hold in our collections. This is a hands-on role; accessioning new items that enter our collections and storing them correctly; using the collection management system Modes to catalogue our items; putting exhibitions in place and take them down at the end of season. This behind-the-scenes role is as vital to the life of our museum as our front-of-house roles.
Catering
Join the team who create our ‘Cake of the Day’ throughout the season, and who also cater for pre-booked groups and special events. You will need to obtain a Food Hygiene certificate, which we will be happy to organise and pay for.
For more information and/or an application form, please contact: admin@engleseabrook.org.uk
And here’s our volunteer recruitment video that we made not long ago which you might enjoy!